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According to the cooling curve, what happens to the following energies when water is condensing?

a) Kinetic energy decreases and potential energy remains the same
b) Kinetic energy decreases and potential energy decreases
c) Kinetic energy remains the same and potential energy remains the same
d) Kinetic energy remains the same and potential energy decreases

User Trrrrrrm
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

During the process of condensation, the kinetic energy of water molecules remains constant, while the potential energy decreases as water transitions from vapor to liquid phase.

Step-by-step explanation:

When water is condensing, it means that it is transitioning from a gas (vapor) phase to a liquid phase. During this process, the average kinetic energy of the water molecules remains the same because the temperature does not change during the phase transition. However, the water molecules are moving closer together, which decreases the potential energy of the system as the intermolecular forces bring the water molecules into a more stable, less energetic state.

The correct answer to the question is that during condensation, the kinetic energy remains the same and the potential energy decreases (d).

User Antimonit
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