How does thermal energy increase affect molecular movement?

An increase in thermal energy directly impacts the kinetic energy of molecules, leading to more vigorous movement. As thermal energy rises, molecules absorb this energy, which causes them to move more rapidly and vibrate more intensely. This heightened activity is fundamental to the behaviors observed in different states of matter, particularly between solids, liquids, and gases.

In solids, increased thermal energy causes the particles to vibrate more but they remain fixed in place relative to each other, while in liquids, the particles can move more freely as the thermal energy increases, allowing for greater fluidity. In gases, the effect is even more pronounced as the molecules move much faster and spread apart as they gain thermal energy.

When thermal energy increases, it does not lead to molecules stopping their movement; rather, it promotes increased movement. Decreases in temperature contradict the concept of increasing thermal energy, as does the idea of losing kinetic energy. Thus, the correct understanding of molecular movement in relation to thermal energy increase aligns with the assertion that molecules vibrate more as they gain heat.