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.

Answer 1

When water is heated and eventually converts to steam, the following happens to its kinetic and potential energies:

• The particles gain kinetic energy as they heat up, which causes them to move more rapidly.
• As the water reaches its boiling point and transitions to steam, the particles also gain potential energy to overcome intermolecular forces as they move from the liquid to the gaseous phase.

Therefore, the correct response is: "The particles gain both potential and kinetic energy."