The diagram below shows a substance undergoing a phase change. The substance is changing from a solid to a liquid.

Question

Which of the following is true?
A.
The particles in the liquid are moving slower than they were in the solid.
B.
The particles in the liquid are moving at the same speed that they were moving in the solid.
C.
The particles in the liquid are moving faster than they were in the solid.
D.
The particles in the liquid are fixed and unable to move at all.

Answer 1

The correct answer is:

C. The particles in the liquid are moving faster than they were in the solid.

During a phase change from a solid to a liquid, the particles gain energy and move more freely, allowing them to overcome the rigid structure of the solid.