Question

practice it!
select the statement that accurately summarizes how heat energy spreads throughout a substance.

• particles are heated and move around. they transfer thermal energy to the other particles as they bump into each other. this continues until all the particles lose all of their energy and motion stops.
• heated particles absorb the energy and begin to move more and faster. as they move around, they bump into nearby particles and transfer some of their energy to those particles. this continues until all the particles in the substance have the same amount of energy.
• when particles are heated, they become sluggish and slow down. they transfer energy to nearby particles, causing them to slow down, too.
• as a particle is heated, it absorbs energy. as it bumps into a nearby particle, it transfers all the heat energy to the second particle. this leaves the first particle with no energy, so its movement slows.

Explanation:

To determine the correct statement, we analyze each option:

• Option 1: Incorrect. Particles don't lose all energy and stop motion; heat transfer involves energy distribution, not complete energy loss.
• Option 2: Correct. Heated particles absorb energy, move faster, collide with nearby particles, and transfer energy until all have the same energy (thermal equilibrium).
• Option 3: Incorrect. Heated particles gain energy and move faster, not slower.
• Option 4: Incorrect. Particles transfer energy but don't lose all energy; the first particle still has some energy (or reaches equilibrium), and the description of "no energy" is inaccurate.

Answer:

B. Heated particles absorb the energy and begin to move more and faster. As they move around, they bump into nearby particles and transfer some of their energy to those particles. This continues until all the particles in the substance have the same amount of energy.