When thermal energy in a solid is increased, the change in state is called

When the thermal energy in a solid is increased, the solid particles gain energy and begin to vibrate more vigorously. As the temperature rises, these particles eventually have enough energy to overcome the forces holding them in their fixed positions. This leads to a change of state from a solid to a liquid. This process is known as melting.



To further understand this, imagine an ice cube. As it absorbs heat, it gains energy, and the ice (which is a solid) starts to turn into water (which is a liquid). This transition is what we refer to as melting.



Thus, the term that describes this change of state, when a solid is heated and turns into a liquid, is melting.