Final answer:
Thermal energy influences changes in state by causing substances to melt, vaporize, condense, or freeze.
Step-by-step explanation:
Thermal energy plays a significant role in influencing a change in state. When thermal energy is added to a substance, its particles gain energy and vibrate more vigorously. As a result, the substance undergoes a phase change from a solid to a liquid (melting) or from a liquid to a gas (vaporization). Conversely, when thermal energy is removed, the particles lose energy and move less, causing the substance to go through a phase change from a gas to a liquid (condensation) or from a liquid to a solid (freezing).
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