Imagine you are drinking a cup of coffee (or another hot beverage of your choice). As the drink cools down, what is the best description of what is happening to the molecules?(1 point)

Question

Responses

As the drink cools, the molecules are gaining kinetic energy.
As the drink cools, the molecules are gaining kinetic energy.

As the drink cools, the molecules are losing kinetic energy.
As the drink cools, the molecules are losing kinetic energy.

As the drink cools, the kinetic energy of the molecules are unaffected.
As the drink cools, the kinetic energy of the molecules are unaffected.

As the drink cools, the molecules are losing potential energy.

Answer 1

The best description of what is happening to the molecules as the drink cools is:

As the drink cools, the molecules are losing kinetic energy.

As the temperature decreases, the motion of the molecules slows down, which corresponds to a loss of kinetic energy.