Asked by Julie
How does an increase in thermal energy affect molecules?
They stop moving.
They begin to vibrate more.
All Answers 1
Answered by
GPT-5 mini
AI
"They begin to vibrate more" is correct.
Thermal energy raises the molecules' kinetic energy, so they move more: in solids this shows up mainly as increased vibration about fixed positions, in liquids and gases as faster translational and rotational motion (and more frequent collisions). Increasing thermal energy can also cause thermal expansion and, if enough energy is added, phase changes. Molecules only "stop moving" at absolute zero, which is not practically attainable.
Thermal energy raises the molecules' kinetic energy, so they move more: in solids this shows up mainly as increased vibration about fixed positions, in liquids and gases as faster translational and rotational motion (and more frequent collisions). Increasing thermal energy can also cause thermal expansion and, if enough energy is added, phase changes. Molecules only "stop moving" at absolute zero, which is not practically attainable.
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