The diagram shows the fastest particles leaving the surface of a liquid during evaporation. The average kinetic energy of the particles left behind

Assessment: Physics 0625 | Paper 1 Mock 01 | Multiple Choice (Core) Subject: Physics - 0625

Question 1 Report

The diagram shows the fastest particles leaving the surface of a liquid during evaporation. diagram The average kinetic energy of the particles left behind

Answer Details

As shown in the diagram, evaporation occurs when the fastest particles at the surface of a liquid escape into the air. These escaping particles carry away more than the average amount of kinetic energy.

When the most energetic particles leave, the particles that remain behind have a lower average kinetic energy than before. Since temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles, a lower average kinetic energy means a lower temperature. The liquid therefore cools down.

This is why evaporation is a cooling process. It is the basis for sweating in humans: as perspiration evaporates from the skin, the most energetic water molecules escape, taking energy with them and lowering the skin temperature.

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