19. Explain how heat affects the speed of particles and the distances between particles.

1 answer

When heat is applied to a substance, the particles in that substance gain energy and start to move more quickly. This increased speed means that the particles collide with each other more often and with greater force. These collisions cause the particles to move farther apart from each other, increasing the distance between them. The opposite occurs when a substance loses heat, slowing down the particles and causing them to come closer together. Therefore, heat affects the speed of particles and the distances between them by changing their kinetic energy and the frequency and force of their collisions.