Which type of energy is associated with the random motion of atoms and molecules in a sample of air?
1. chemical energy
2. electrical energy
3. nuclear energy
4. thermal energy
Answer (3)
I think the best answer from the choices listed above is option 4. It is thermal energy that is associated with random motion of atoms and molecules in a sample of air. This is because the average kinetic energy of the molecules are related to temperature which is a driving force for heat transfer to happen. So, it should be thermal energy.
The correct answer is 4. The energy associated with the random motion of atoms and molecules in a sample of air is thermal energy.
Thermal energy is the energy associated with the random motion of atoms and molecules. In a sample of air, the molecules are constantly moving in random directions, and the kinetic energy of this motion is what we perceive as temperature. As the temperature of the air increases, the molecules move faster, and the thermal energy increases.
To elaborate:
Chemical energy is the energy stored in the bonds of atoms and molecules. It is related to the arrangement of electrons in atoms and the chemical reactions that can occur.
Electrical energy is the energy associated with electric charges and their movement through a conductor. It is not directly related to the random motion of molecules in air.
Nuclear energy is the energy stored in the nucleus of an atom. It is released during nuclear reactions, such as fission or fusion, and is not related to the random motion of air molecules.
Thermal energy, on the other hand, is the result of the kinetic energy of the particles within a substance. It is the energy that is transferred as heat, and it is directly related to the temperature of the substance. When air molecules move randomly and collide with each other and with other objects, they transfer energy, which is thermal energy.
Therefore, the energy associated with the random motion of atoms and molecules in a sample of air is thermal energy.
The correct answer to the question is option 4: thermal energy, as it is associated with the random motion of atoms and molecules. Thermal energy increases with higher temperatures due to increased atomic motion. Therefore, in air, thermal energy reflects the kinetic energy of the moving molecules.
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