Question
When you add energy to a substance, it gets warmer, leading to an increase in kinetic energy.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
That's correct! When you add energy to a substance, typically in the form of heat, the energy is absorbed by the molecules within that substance. This energy increases the kinetic energy of the molecules, which translates to a rise in temperature.
In a solid, the molecules vibrate more quickly as they gain energy. In liquids and gases, the increase in kinetic energy allows molecules to move more freely and collide more frequently. This is why, for example, when you heat water on a stove, the water's temperature rises because the added energy causes the water molecules to move more vigorously.
Furthermore, when enough energy is added, the substance can change states, such as from solid to liquid (melting) or from liquid to gas (evaporation). In those cases, the kinetic energy increase also allows the molecules to overcome the intermolecular forces holding them in a solid or liquid state.
In a solid, the molecules vibrate more quickly as they gain energy. In liquids and gases, the increase in kinetic energy allows molecules to move more freely and collide more frequently. This is why, for example, when you heat water on a stove, the water's temperature rises because the added energy causes the water molecules to move more vigorously.
Furthermore, when enough energy is added, the substance can change states, such as from solid to liquid (melting) or from liquid to gas (evaporation). In those cases, the kinetic energy increase also allows the molecules to overcome the intermolecular forces holding them in a solid or liquid state.