Which state of matter would have the highest kinetic energy?
a
Liquid
b
Gas
c
Solid
Gas
The state of matter that has the highest kinetic energy is gas.
The state of matter that would have the highest kinetic energy is gas.
To understand why, let's first understand what kinetic energy is. Kinetic energy is the energy an object possesses due to its motion. It depends on the mass and speed of the object.
In a gas, the particles (atoms or molecules) are in constant random motion. They move freely and quickly, colliding with each other and the container walls. As a result, the particles in a gas have high speeds and, therefore, high kinetic energy.
In a liquid, the particles are closer together and move at a slower speed compared to gas particles. Although they have some kinetic energy, it is lower than that of gas particles.
In a solid, the particles are tightly packed and have the least amount of freedom to move. They vibrate in fixed positions but do not have the same level of translational motion as gas or liquid particles. As a result, solids have the lowest kinetic energy among the three states of matter.
Therefore, the state of matter with the highest kinetic energy is gas.