What happens when thermal energy is applied to water
1 answer
When thermal energy is applied to water, the temperature of the water increases. As the water molecules absorb heat energy, they begin to move more rapidly and collide with each other with greater force. This causes the water to expand slightly and eventually reach its boiling point, at which point it begins to evaporate and turn into steam. The process of heating water also breaks the hydrogen bonds between the water molecules, allowing them to move more freely and change from a liquid to a gas state.