Question

The sum of the kinetic and potential energies of a system’s atoms and molecules is called what?

Answer 1

internal energy

Internal energythe sum of the kinetic and potential energies of a systems atoms and molecules. Can be divided into many subcategories, such as thermal and chemical energy. Depends only on the state of a system  such as its P , V , and T  , not on how the energy entered the system. Change in internal energy is path independent.