A blacksmith strikes a piece of metal with a hammer repeatedly. The metal slowly begins to glow as the temperature increases, and the metal becomes more malleable. Which changes on a microscopic level led to the visible changes in the properties of the metal? A) The individual temperature of the particles increases B) The average speed of the particles increased C) The potential energy of the particles decreased D) The kinetic energy of the particles decreased

A) The individual temperature of the particles increases