Question

Which change in the temperature of a 1-gram sample of water wouldcause the greatest increase in the average kinetic energy of its molecules?(1) 1°C to 10°C (3) 50°C to 60°C(2) 10°C to 1°C (4) 60°C to 50°C

Answer 1

The change of 50°C to 60°C would be the largest increase.

Explaination: Basically this question is saying "Which one of these would cause the biggest increase in temperature?" If molecules have more kinetic energy, that just means they are moving around a lot more. The more the molecules are moving around, the hotter that thing is. The 50-60 difference is bigger than the 1-10 because the 50 is rising 10° to 60, while the 1 is rising only 9° to 10. I hope that makes sense, Chemistry is weird.

Answer 2

Answer: Option (3) is the correct answer.

Explanation:

Average kinetic energy is defined as the mean of all the energies present within the molecules of a substance.

Also, we known that relation between kinetic energy and temperature is as follows.

                      $K.E = \frac{3}{2}kT$

Since, kinetic energy is directly proportional to temperature. So, when there will be increase in temperature then this will also lead to increase in kinetic energy. Hence, average kinetic energy will also increase.

Thus, we can conclude that a change from $50^{o}C$ to $60^{o}C$ in the temperature of a 1-gram sample of water would cause the greatest increase in the average kinetic energy of its molecules.