Thermal energy is defined as:

Thermal energy refers to the total energy that is present in an object due to the movement and arrangement of its particles. This energy includes both potential energy, which is related to the positions of the particles, and kinetic energy, which comes from the motion of these particles. As the temperature of a substance increases, the particles move more vigorously, resulting in a higher total thermal energy.

In this context, the definition accurately encompasses all particles within the object, capturing the essence of thermal energy as a comprehensive measure of the energy present due to particle motion and interactions. Understanding this concept is essential for exploring how heat transfers between objects and how temperature correlates with the kinetic energy of particles.