As a scoop of ice cream melts, the following happens to the atoms:
-
They increase in temperature: As the ice cream melts, the temperature rises, which increases the energy of the molecules.
-
They gain energy: The atoms and molecules in the ice cream absorb heat energy from the surroundings, which increases their kinetic energy.
-
They vibrate faster: Increased energy causes the molecules to move more vigorously, leading to faster vibrations.
-
They are held tightly in a fixed position (mostly in solid form): In the solid state (when it is still ice cream), the molecules are held more tightly and structured in a lattice. As melting occurs, this structure breaks down and the molecules move more freely.
So the correct answer to what happens when the ice cream melts is: They vibrate faster.