33. As ice melts at standard pressure, its temperature remains at 0°C until it has completely melted. Its potential energy
1)decreases
2)increases
3)remains the same
increases
Energy is being added to make it melt.
STAYS THE SAAME
The potential energy of ice remains the same as it melts at standard pressure.
To understand why, let's look at the process of melting. When solid ice is heated, it absorbs thermal energy from its surroundings, which increases the kinetic energy of the water molecules within the ice lattice. As the temperature of the ice rises, the molecules begin to vibrate more vigorously until they break free from their fixed positions and enter the liquid phase.
During this phase transition from solid to liquid, the temperature of the ice remains constant at 0°C. This is because the energy being absorbed is primarily used to overcome the forces holding the ice lattice together, rather than increasing the kinetic energy of the water molecules. This energy is known as the latent heat of fusion.
Since the temperature remains constant, the average kinetic energy of the water molecules does not change, and therefore the potential energy of the system (the energy associated with the arrangement of particles in the ice) also remains the same. Therefore, the correct answer is option 3) remains the same.