Kinetic Energy of Particles and Temperature

What is kinetic and potential energy?

• Kinetic energy is the energy an object has because it is moving (energy of movement)

  • the faster something moves, the more kinetic energy it has

• Potential energy is the stored energy in an object due to its position or condition.

What is temperature?

the average kinetic energy

• Higher temperature → particles move faster (higher average kinetic energy)

• Lower temperature  → particles move slower (lower average kinetic energy)

What are the 3 ways particles can move?

translational, vibrational, and rotational

Describe the translational motion

• molecules move freely

• only particles in liquids and gases

Describe the vibrational motion

• move about in a fixed position

• all particles, regardless of state

Describe rotational motion

• spins on an axis

• particles in liquids and gases (some solids)

What does increasing temperature do to particles?

• increases all types of kinetic energy/ modes of movement of particles

• eventually, each particle will have enough energy to completely escape from all of the other particles by breaking the intermolecular forces (IMF) as the substance becomes a gas

What is the impact of IMF on energy?

• the strength of the IMF determines how much energy must be added to the system for it to become a gas

What is pressure?

• force per unit area

• # of collisions the molecules make w/ the container

(The push of the molecules against the a container)