As water becomes warmer, boils and then becomes water vapor (steam), what happens to its kinetic and potential energies?(1 point)

Question

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 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 particles gain both potential and kinetic energy.
The particles gain both potential and kinetic energy.

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

As water is heated and transitions from a liquid to a gas (steam), the correct response is:

The particles gain both potential and kinetic energy.

When water is heated, its temperature increases, which raises the kinetic energy of the molecules (as they move faster). Additionally, as water boils and the molecules transition into steam, they gain potential energy due to the increased distance between them in the gaseous state compared to the liquid state. Therefore, both forms of energy increase during this process.