What is the nature of thermal energy? What is heat at the atomic level? Give a discussion and several examples. Would it make any sense to speak of the temperature of an atom? Solution 1) Heat is a formation of thermal energy, that is transferred between two substances due to temperature difference.Thermal energy cause change in the state of matter.(solid to liquid and liquid to gas..etc).Thermal energy is depends on average kinetic energy of molecules in the system.Thermal energy can transfer in three different ways..that is Conduction,convection and radiation. Examples: Suns thermal energy heats the atmosphere. Ice is addded to water, thermal energy in the water melts the ice. 2) Matter made of atoms and molecules. Heat added to the substance, the atoms and molecules vibrates faster, which increase the molecular motion and finally substance expands.Convection is one of the example for atomic level of heat. 3) Temperature of atom is conceptually incorrect. This is because, from the gas law, the average kinetic energy gas molecules(not atoms) is directly proportional to the absolute temperature.Therefore single particle or atom canot have a temperature..