When a liquid evaporates, the vapor expands because ________.
A)the gas particles have less kinetic energy than the liquid particles
B)the gas particles have less potential energy than the liquid particles
C)the gas particles have more potential energy than the liquid particles
D)the gas particles have more kinetic energy than the liquid particles
E)the gas particles are bigger than the liquid particles

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When a liquid evaporates, its molecules gain energy from the surroundings and move faster, which increases their kinetic energy. As a result, they break the liquid's cohesive forces and escape into the atmosphere as individual gaseous particles with higher kinetic energy than the liquid particles. These gas particles are in constant motion and spread out to fill the available space, causing the vapor to expand. Therefore, the best choice is D: the gas particles have more kinetic energy than the liquid particles.

When a Liquid Evaporates, the Vapor Expands Because ________