Final answer:
Increasing the thermal energy of a substance results in a higher motion of particles and an increase in temperature, as described by the kinetic-molecular theory.
Step-by-step explanation:
When the thermal energy of a substance increases, D) Both the motion of the particles in the substance and the temperature of the substance increase. Atoms and molecules in a substance have kinetic energy due to their motion. With an increase in thermal energy, these particles move or vibrate faster, leading to a higher average kinetic energy and a higher temperature of the substance, assuming no chemical reaction or phase change occurs. This is outlined by the kinetic-molecular theory, which connects temperature with particle motion.
So, if the motion (vibrations and translations) of the particles of a substance intensifies due to higher thermal energy, its temperature reflects this by increasing as well. Consequently, the entropy, or disorder, of the system also increases as the distribution of kinetic energies becomes wider, and the particles move in a more disordered manner. This is a fundamental concept in thermodynamics related to energy transfer and the behavior of substances in response to heat.