As water becomes warmer, boils and then becomes water vapor (steam), what happens to its kinetic and potential energies? (1 point)

Question

O The kinetic and potential energies of the particles will stay the same.
The particles gain kinetic energy as it heats up, but the potential energy of the particles will stay the same.
O The particles gain both potential and kinetic energy.
The particles will gain potential
• energy as it heats up, but the kinetic energy of the particles will stay the same.As water becomes warmer, boils and then becomes water vapor (steam), what happens to its kinetic and potential energies? (1 point)
O The kinetic and potential energies of the particles will stay the same.
The particles gain kinetic energy as it heats up, but the potential energy of the particles will stay the same.
O The particles gain both potential and kinetic energy.
The particles will gain potential
• energy as it heats up, but the kinetic energy of the particles will stay the same.

Answer 1

As water becomes warmer, boils, and then becomes water vapor (steam), the correct statement is:

The particles gain both potential and kinetic energy.

Here's why:

1. Kinetic Energy: As water is heated, the temperature of the water increases, which means the particles move faster. This increase in movement corresponds to an increase in kinetic energy.

2. Potential Energy: During the phase change from liquid to gas (boiling), while the temperature remains constant, energy is used to overcome the intermolecular forces holding the liquid together. This energy increases the potential energy of the particles as they transition from a liquid state to a gaseous state.

Therefore, both kinetic energy (due to temperature increase) and potential energy (due to phase change) increase as water is boiled into steam.