Does an Object's Thermal Energy Decrease as Its Temperature Drops?

[mogibb1]

Homework Statement

I know that if an object radiates more energy than it absorbs its temperature will decrease, but what I'm trying to see is whether or not its thermal energy also decreases (I'm thinking yes, but not 100% sure).

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

 

[JaredJames]

Thermal energy is the movement of particles within a solid / liquid / gas.

If the temperature of an object decreases, the 'vibration' of the particles within that object also slows down - the closer to absolute zero you get the slower the particles move, until the point you reach absolute zero when all motion stops.

So the system loses thermal energy when its temperature decreases and gains thermal energy when its temperature increases.

This is the basic principle behind super conductors.

As a brief introduction for you: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermal_energy