Kinetic and Thermal Energy Quick Check

Question

5 of 55 of 5 Items

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

The particles will gain potential energy as it heats up, but the kinetic energy of the particles will stay the same.
The particles will gain potential energy as it heats up, but the kinetic energy of the particles will stay the same.

The particles gain both potential and kinetic energy.
The particles gain both potential and kinetic energy.

The particles gain kinetic energy as it heats up, but the potential energy 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.

The kinetic and potential energies of the particles will stay the same.
The kinetic and potential energies of the particles will stay the same.
Skip to navigation

Answer 1

When water is heated, and as it reaches the boiling point and transforms into steam, both the kinetic energy and potential energy of the water molecules change.

1. Kinetic energy increases as the temperature of the water rises. This is because temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles; as the temperature increases, the kinetic energy of the molecules increases as they move faster.

2. Potential energy also increases as water boils and changes from a liquid to a gas. This is due to the energy required to overcome the intermolecular attractions between the molecules in the liquid state. When water boils, energy is used to separate the molecules, increasing their potential energy.

Considering these changes, the correct answer is:

The particles gain both potential and kinetic energy.