what happens when thermal energy is applied to an ice cube
its water molecule gain kinetic energy and move around more
its water molecule lose potential energy
its water molecules loses kinetic energy so the ice cube melts
its water molecules gain potential energy
When thermal energy is applied to an ice cube, its water molecules gain kinetic energy and move around more. To understand why this happens, we need to understand the concept of thermal energy and how it relates to the state of matter.
Thermal energy is the energy present in a substance due to the random motion of its particles. In the case of an ice cube, the water molecules are held together in a rigid structure due to the strong attractive forces between them. This structure creates a solid state with the molecules arranged in a fixed and organized pattern.
However, when thermal energy is added to the ice cube, it increases the kinetic energy of the water molecules. As a result, the molecules start vibrating more vigorously and breaking free from their fixed positions within the crystal lattice. This increase in kinetic energy causes the ice to undergo a phase change and transform into its liquid state, known as melting.
During the melting process, the water molecules lose their potential energy. Potential energy is associated with the arrangement or position of particles within a substance. In the solid state of an ice cube, the water molecules have a configured arrangement and relatively low kinetic energy, but they possess a certain amount of potential energy due to their intermolecular forces.
As the ice cube absorbs thermal energy and transitions to the liquid state, the water molecules lose their potential energy because they are no longer confined to fixed positions within the crystal lattice. Instead, they gain more freedom to move and flow, resulting in increased disorder and a higher kinetic energy state.
So, to summarize, when thermal energy is applied to an ice cube, its water molecules gain kinetic energy, move around more, and eventually, the ice cube melts as the solid structure breaks down due to the increased kinetic energy. In this process, the water molecules lose their potential energy.