What does temperature mean in terms for sixth grade?

Answer 1

Temperature is the absence (none) or the presence of heat in an organism or of an object. Most living organisms, including humans, have a range of temperature that is compatible with life-- meaning, the organism lives the best at certain temperatures. Most objects work best when kept at a specific range of temperature.

For examples:

The average oral temperature, taken in the mouth, for a human is 98.6 F. Some people do fine at 97.6 but if lower, the body cannot function. If too low, tissue and cells freeze; a person can die. People tolerate a low fever of 99 to 101 degrees. But when body temp climbs to 103 and above, it can also kill cells especially in the brain.

Humans like hot drinks and cold drinks. A boiling hot drink can burn. A too cold drink can hurt the mouth, teeth/gums, and throat. If a person is lost in the wilderness in the snow, and the outside temp is low (especially below 32 degrees), if a person drinks something cold, it lowers their body temp even more.

Metals, plastics, andglass don't feel their own temp, but humans figured out they work best at certain temps. For example, steel does not bend easy when cold, but can be bent and shaped when overheated. Glass can shatter when frozen but extreme heat creates glass and makes it easy to shape glass. Plastics snap in pieces when frozen, but melt in high temps.