Background: We discussed earlier some basic principles about the behavior of gases called the kinetic-molecular theory. Among other things, this theory suggests that gas molecules are in constant motion, and the average speed of the individual gas particles is dependent upon temperature – the higher the temperature, the faster the molecules move. It is not just gas particles that are in constant motion. The molecules and ions that make up liquids and solutions are also continually moving in nearly random directions. As a result, molecules and ions in a solution will collide with one another fairly frequently. As with gases, a temperature increase will produce an increase in the average particle speed.

Situation: Scientists are observing two of the same gases at different temperatures. They are observing the speed of the particles in the gases to see how fast they are moving. Gas A has particles moving very quickly, but Gas B has particles that are hardly moving at all.

Question: Which gas is at a higher temperature?
Answer: Gas A

Situation: Scientists are observing two of the same gases at different temperatures. They are observing the speed of the particles in the gases to see how fast they are moving. Gas A has particles moving very quickly, but Gas B has particles that are hardly moving at all.

Question: Which gas is at a lower temperature?
Answer: Gas B

Situation: Hank put two pots of water on separate burners on a stove to prepare dinner for his party later tonight. Pot X is sitting on a burner that is turned on, but Pot Y is sitting on a burner that is off.

Question: Which pot's ions are moving faster?
Answer: Pot X

Situation: Hank put two pots of water on separate burners on a stove to prepare dinner for his party later tonight. Pot X is sitting on a burner that is turned on, but Pot Y is sitting on a burner that is off.

Question: Which pot's ions are moving slower?
Answer: Pot Y

Situation: Ken sets two containers filled with the same gas, container L and container P, on top of two different burners. He sets container L's burner to a low temperature and container P's burner up very high. Ken realizes he may have set the temperature too high and is intending to turn it down, but a coworker walks in and distracts him so Ken forgets to lower it.

Question: Which container has molecules with a higher average speed?
Answer: container P

Situation: Ken sets two containers filled with the same gas, container L and container P, on top of two different burners. He sets container L's burner to a low temperature and container P's burner up very high. Ken realizes he may have set the temperature too high and is intending to turn it down, but a coworker walks in and distracts him so Ken forgets to lower it.

Question: Which container has molecules with a lower average speed?
Answer: container L

Situation: Ken sets two containers filled with the same gas, container L and container P, on top of two different burners. He sets container L's burner to a low temperature and container P's burner up very high. Ken realizes he may have set the temperature too high and is intending to turn it down, but a coworker walks in and distracts him so Ken forgets to lower it.

Question: Which container's molecules will collide more frequently?
Answer: container P

Situation: Ken sets two containers filled with the same gas, container L and container P, on top of two different burners. He sets container L's burner to a low temperature and container P's burner up very high. Ken realizes he may have set the temperature too high and is intending to turn it down, but a coworker walks in and distracts him so Ken forgets to lower it.

Question: Which container's molecules will collide less frequently?
Answer: container L

Situation: While out camping, Susie and Bob both make their own campfires to cook food on and keep warm. Susie puts a pot of water on her fire to use for coffee, and Bob puts his own pot of water on top of his fire. Suddenly, an odd man comes up and asks if he can measure their water pots for his scientific research. Hesitantly, Susie and Bob both agree, but feel odd about the situation. The man tells them that Susie's water molecules are moving very fast and Bob's aren't moving much. The man then sprints away. Bob and Susie look at each other with confused expressions.

Question: Whose pot of water is warmer?
Answer: Susie's

Situation: While out camping, Susie and Bob both make their own campfires to cook food on and keep warm. Susie puts a pot of water on her fire to use for coffee, and Bob puts his own pot of water on top of his fire. Suddenly, an odd man comes up and asks if he can measure their water pots for his scientific research. Hesitantly, Susie and Bob both agree, but feel odd about the situation. The man tells them that Susie's water molecules are moving very fast and Bob's aren't moving much. The man then sprints away. Bob and Susie look at each other with confused expressions.

Question: Whose pot of water is colder?
Answer: Bob's

Situation: While out camping, Susie and Bob both make their own campfires to cook food on and keep warm. Susie puts a pot of water on her fire to use for coffee, and Bob puts his own pot of water on top of his fire. Suddenly, an odd man comes up and asks if he can measure their water pots for his scientific research. Hesitantly, Susie and Bob both agree, but feel odd about the situation. The man tells them that Susie's water molecules are moving very fast and Bob's aren't moving much. The man then sprints away. Bob and Susie look at each other with confused expressions.

Question: Are the molecules in Susie's water colliding more or less frequently than Bob's?
Answer: more

Situation: While out camping, Susie and Bob both make their own campfires to cook food on and keep warm. Susie puts a pot of water on her fire to use for coffee, and Bob puts his own pot of water on top of his fire. Suddenly, an odd man comes up and asks if he can measure their water pots for his scientific research. Hesitantly, Susie and Bob both agree, but feel odd about the situation. The man tells them that Susie's water molecules are moving very fast and Bob's aren't moving much. The man then sprints away. Bob and Susie look at each other with confused expressions.

Question: Are the molecules in Bob's water colliding more or less frequently than Susie's?
Answer: less