Final answer:
Surface energy is greater than grain energy because increasing the surface area requires the breaking of more atomic or molecular bonds, which requires more energy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Surface energy is the energy required to increase the surface area of a material. Grain energy, on the other hand, refers to the energy associated with the arrangement of atoms or molecules within the material. The reason why surface energy is greater than grain energy is due to the fact that increasing the surface area requires the breaking of more atomic or molecular bonds, which requires more energy.
For example, consider a solid material with a specific crystal structure. The atoms or molecules within the material are arranged in a specific pattern, forming grains. The energy associated with these grain boundaries is relatively small compared to the energy required to create and increase the material's surface area.
In summary, surface energy is greater than grain energy because increasing the surface area requires the breaking of more atomic or molecular bonds, which requires more energy.