In describing heat transfer problems, we often make the mistake of interchangeably using the terms heat and temperature. Actually, there is a distinct difference between the two. Temperature is a measure of the amount of energy possessed by the molecules of a substance. It is a relative measure of how hot or cold a substance is and can be used to predict the direction of heat transfer. The usual symbol for temperature is T. The scales for measuring temperature in SI units are the Celsius and Kelvin temperature scales. On the other hand, heat is energy in transit. The transfer of energy as heat occurs at the molecular level as a result of a temperature difference. The usual symbol for heat is Q. Common units for measuring heat are the Joule and calorie in the SI system.
Energy in transit due to temperature difference.
What is Heat Transfer?