How does the number of atoms or molecules in a system affect its thermal energy?

The number of atoms or molecules in a system is directly related to its thermal energy, or the total kinetic energy of the particles in the system. The more atoms or molecules a system has, the more thermal energy it will have.

Thermal energy is the result of the motion of the particles in a system, and the faster the particles are moving, the more thermal energy they will have. At the molecular level, the temperature of a substance is a measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in the substance.

As the number of particles in a system increases, the total kinetic energy of the particles also increases, resulting in an increase in the thermal energy of the system. This is because there are more particles in the system to contribute to the overall kinetic energy.

On the other hand, if the number of particles in a system decreases, the total kinetic energy of the particles will also decrease, resulting in a decrease in the thermal energy of the system. This is because there are fewer particles in the system to contribute to the overall kinetic energy.

In summary, the number of atoms or molecules in a system affects its thermal energy because it determines the total kinetic energy of the particles in the system. The more atoms or molecules a system has, the more thermal energy it will have.