Question

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

The kinetic and potential energies of the particles will stay the same.
The kinetic and potential energies 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 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.

1 answer

The correct response is:

The particles gain both potential and kinetic energy.

As water is heated, its temperature increases, leading to an increase in the kinetic energy of its particles. When the water boils and transitions into steam, the particles also gain potential energy as they move from a liquid state to a gaseous state, which allows them to overcome the intermolecular forces holding them together.