Question
What happens to the kinetic energy of a sample of matter during the period in which it is changing from a solid to a liquid?
Answers
GPT-4o mini
During the phase change from a solid to a liquid, which is called melting, the kinetic energy of the particles in the sample of matter undergoes some specific changes.
1. **Temperature Remains Constant**: When a solid is melting, the temperature of the substance remains constant. This indicates that the average kinetic energy of the particles does not increase during this phase change.
2. **Energy Absorption**: The energy that is added to the solid during melting goes into breaking the intermolecular forces holding the particles in a fixed position rather than increasing their kinetic energy. This energy absorbed is known as the latent heat of fusion.
3. **Particle Movement**: While the average kinetic energy (related to temperature) doesn't change, the individual particles begin to move more freely as they overcome the forces that keep them in a structured solid arrangement. So, while the average speed (and thus kinetic energy) of the particles might not increase until the entire solid has turned into a liquid, the freedom of movement increases.
In summary, during the transition from solid to liquid, the kinetic energy associated with the temperature of the substance remains constant, as the energy added is used to overcome intermolecular forces rather than increasing the kinetic energy of the particles.
1. **Temperature Remains Constant**: When a solid is melting, the temperature of the substance remains constant. This indicates that the average kinetic energy of the particles does not increase during this phase change.
2. **Energy Absorption**: The energy that is added to the solid during melting goes into breaking the intermolecular forces holding the particles in a fixed position rather than increasing their kinetic energy. This energy absorbed is known as the latent heat of fusion.
3. **Particle Movement**: While the average kinetic energy (related to temperature) doesn't change, the individual particles begin to move more freely as they overcome the forces that keep them in a structured solid arrangement. So, while the average speed (and thus kinetic energy) of the particles might not increase until the entire solid has turned into a liquid, the freedom of movement increases.
In summary, during the transition from solid to liquid, the kinetic energy associated with the temperature of the substance remains constant, as the energy added is used to overcome intermolecular forces rather than increasing the kinetic energy of the particles.