Question

Which object will have particles with the highest average kinetic energy?

water at 40°C in a swimming pool
an iceberg at 0°C
a drop of water at 90°C
water at 37°C in a glass

Answer 1

To determine which object has particles with the highest average kinetic energy, we need to consider the temperature of each substance, as the average kinetic energy of particles in a substance is directly related to its temperature in Kelvin.

1. **Water at 40°C**: 40 + 273.15 = 313.15 K
2. **Iceberg at 0°C**: 0 + 273.15 = 273.15 K
3. **Drop of water at 90°C**: 90 + 273.15 = 363.15 K
4. **Water at 37°C**: 37 + 273.15 = 310.15 K

Comparing the temperatures in Kelvin:
- Water at 40°C: 313.15 K
- Iceberg at 0°C: 273.15 K
- Drop of water at 90°C: 363.15 K
- Water at 37°C: 310.15 K

The drop of water at 90°C has the highest temperature (363.15 K), which means it has the highest average kinetic energy of its particles.

Therefore, the answer is **a drop of water at 90°C**.