Which statement below is TRUE of the kinetic energy of the particles in the three states of matter? Explain.
a
The particles of liquids have the greatest amount of kinetic energy.
b
The particles of solids, liquids, and gases all have the same amounts of kinetic energy.
c
The particles of solids have the greatest amount of kinetic energy.
d
The particles of gases have the greatest amount of kinetic energy.
D) The statement that the particles of gases have the greatest amount of kinetic energy is true.
The kinetic energy of particles is associated with their movement or speed, with higher speeds corresponding to higher kinetic energy. In a gas state, the particles have the highest amount of kinetic energy. This is because the particles in a gas are widely spread apart and move freely throughout the container, colliding frequently with each other and the container walls, resulting in high kinetic energy.
In contrast, in a solid state, the particles are tightly packed and have limited movement. They vibrate in fixed positions and only have minimal kinetic energy.
Liquids have particles that are less tightly packed compared to solids but are not as spread out as in gases. They have moderate kinetic energy as the particles can move around, rotate, and slide past each other. However, their kinetic energy is lower than that of gases.
Therefore, the statement that the particles of gases have the greatest amount of kinetic energy is true.