Which state of matter has the greatest kinetic energy?

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Multiple Choice

Which state of matter has the greatest kinetic energy?

Explanation:
Kinetic energy comes from how fast the particles are moving. In solids the particles are locked in place and mostly just vibrate, so their motion—and thus their kinetic energy—is limited. In liquids they can slide past one another, giving them more motion than a solid but still keeping them fairly close together. In gases the particles are far apart and move rapidly with little interaction, so their translational motion is large. Because kinetic energy per molecule grows with how fast the particles move, gases have the greatest average kinetic energy at a given temperature. (For an ideal gas, the average kinetic energy per molecule is proportional to temperature, reflecting this fast translational motion.)

Kinetic energy comes from how fast the particles are moving. In solids the particles are locked in place and mostly just vibrate, so their motion—and thus their kinetic energy—is limited. In liquids they can slide past one another, giving them more motion than a solid but still keeping them fairly close together. In gases the particles are far apart and move rapidly with little interaction, so their translational motion is large. Because kinetic energy per molecule grows with how fast the particles move, gases have the greatest average kinetic energy at a given temperature. (For an ideal gas, the average kinetic energy per molecule is proportional to temperature, reflecting this fast translational motion.)

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