How is temperature related to the motions of molecules
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Temperature is directly related to the motion of molecules. It is a measure of the average kinetic energy of the molecules in a substance. Kinetic energy refers to the energy that an object possesses due to its motion. In the case of molecules, this motion can be in the form of vibrations, rotations, and translations (the movement of the molecules from one place to another).
At higher temperatures, the molecules move faster because they have more energy. This increased motion results in higher kinetic energy. In contrast, at lower temperatures, the molecules move slower, meaning they have less kinetic energy. In simple terms, as the temperature increases, the speed of the molecules increases, and when the temperature decreases, the molecules slow down.
This relationship is true for all states of matter—solids, liquids, and gases. In solids, the molecules vibrate around fixed positions. As the temperature increases, the vibrations become more intense. In liquids, the molecules have more freedom to move, so an increase in temperature causes them to move faster and slide past one another more easily. In gases, the molecules move freely in all directions. At higher temperatures, gas molecules move faster and collide more frequently, which also increases the pressure of the gas if the volume is kept constant.
This connection between temperature and molecular motion is explained by the kinetic molecular theory. According to this theory, the temperature of a substance is proportional to the average kinetic energy of its molecules. Therefore, the temperature of a substance can give us a good idea of how much energy the molecules are carrying and how rapidly they are moving.
