Question

Wade could tell it was the night before the trash pickup. The garbage can stank! What was it about summer that made the trash smell so bad, but the odor wasn't as bad during the winter months? Construct an explanation that details the role particle energy play in smell.

Answer 1

Particle energy play a role in smell because during the summer, the sun's rays are more powerful and can break down more molecules in the air, leading to a stronger smell. In the winter, the sun's rays are weaker and can't break down as many molecules, leading to a weaker smell.

Answer 2

Step-by-step explanation:

The odor of trash is due to the presence of particles emitted by decomposing organic matter. During the summer months, the increased temperature causes particles to move faster and collide with each other more frequently. This results in the particles spreading out further, and the odor from the trash becoming more noticeable.

The kinetic energy of the particles in the trash increases with higher temperatures, which means that they move faster and are more likely to escape from the garbage can into the surrounding air. The heat from the sun also speeds up the process of decomposition, leading to the release of more particles and the generation of a stronger odor.

In contrast, during the winter months, the lower temperatures cause the particles to move more slowly, and they collide with each other less frequently. This results in the particles staying closer to the source and the odor from the trash being less noticeable.

In summary, particle energy plays a crucial role in the smell of trash. The higher the temperature, the more kinetic energy the particles have, which leads to faster movement and more frequent collisions. This results in the particles spreading further and generating a stronger odor. Conversely, lower temperatures slow down particle movement, leading to fewer collisions and less noticeable odor.