Final answer:
As the air in a basketball is pumped up and compressed, both the total and average kinetic energy of the air molecules increase, leading to a rise in temperature.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to the temperature increase of air inside a basketball as it is pumped up. When air is compressed into the basketball, the temperature rises due to work being done on the air. According to the principles of kinetic theory and gas laws, as the temperature of a gas increases, the average kinetic energy (KEavg) of its molecules also increases. This is because the molecules move more rapidly and collide with the walls of the basketball more forcefully, resulting in an increase in temperature. Therefore, both the total kinetic energy of the air and the average kinetic energy of the molecules are increasing.
The correct response to the student's question is: B. The total kinetic energy of the air is increasing and the average kinetic energy of the molecules is increasing.