Final answer:
The removal of thermal energy from a solid causes the particles to vibrate less and potentially undergo a phase change if enough energy is removed, resulting in freezing if conditions are right.
Step-by-step explanation:
When thermal energy is removed from a solid, the particles within the solid vibrate less due to a decrease in kinetic energy. If enough thermal energy is removed, the solid may undergo a phase change to become a liquid (melting) or a gas (sublimation), depending on the substance and the conditions. Conversely, when a solid becomes colder, and thermal energy is released, it may cause a liquid to freeze as particles slow down sufficiently for attractive forces to hold them in fixed positions.
For a solid to melt into a liquid, energy must be absorbed to break the cohesive forces holding the molecules in a fixed position. As energy is added for a solid to transition to a liquid state, the temperature remains constant until all of the solid has melted, indicating the energy is used up in breaking down intermolecular forces rather than increasing the temperature.