As a pot of water is heated, what happens to the molecules in the water?

• A. The molecules move faster and their average kinetic energy increases.
• B. The molecules lose energy and condense into a liquid.
• C. The molecules slow down and their average kinetic energy decreases.
• D. The molecules stop moving and form a solid.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that heating a pot of water means adding thermal energy to the system.
2. Recall that temperature is directly related to the average kinetic energy of molecules in a substance.
3. When water is heated, the molecules gain energy, causing them to move faster.
4. Faster molecular motion means an increase in the average kinetic energy of the water molecules.
5. Therefore, as the pot of water is heated, the molecules move faster and their average kinetic energy increases.