The first basic science concept we need to review is that matter has different states or forms. We are concerned with the solid, liquid and gaseous states of matter. Each of these states is reflective of the kinetic energy of a substance. Since water plays a key role in weather here on earth, we will consider the three states of water. Water freezes at 0 degree C, and becomes the solid form we know as ice.
Kinetic energy is the energy of motion.
One way to measure kinetic energy of a substance is to measure its temperature. Heat energy causes molecules to vibrate or move faster, but remember this motion of molecules is a very small distance. Temperature, therefore, is a measurement of this molecular motion. If we increase the heat energy available to the water molecules, their temperature and therefore their kinetic energy and vibrational motion will increase. As a result, the ice turns to water, or the liquid state.