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Molecular movement or vibration is a fundamental result that occurs

when energy is absorbed by an atom. The energy that is absorbed cannot

just disappear; it causes the atom to increase its movement or

vibration, and we perceive this as increased heat.

Most substances do expand when heated, but not all do. This expansion

is caused (in simple terms) by the atoms or molecules needing more

"room" when they vibrate more at higher temperature. Not all

substances expand when heated, though. For example, if you heat water

at 0°C (32°F) it actually contracts until it reaches 4°C (39°F).

Heating further does cause expansion. Similarly, some metal alloys

contract when heated over a wide temperature range as a result of

complex interactions in the metal's crystals.

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Q: Why do substances expand when thermal energy is increased?
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Why does an object bend when you heat it?

When you heat an object, its molecules start to vibrate more vigorously. This increased thermal energy causes the atoms or molecules to move further apart, leading to expansion. As a result, the object will undergo thermal expansion, causing it to bend or deform if it is not uniformly heated.


Why do substances expand when temperature is increased?

When the temperature of a substance is increased, its molecules or atoms jiggle faster and move farther apart, on the average. The result is an expansion of the substance. With a few exceptions, all forms of matter--solids, liquids, gases, and plasmas--generally expand when they are heated and contract when they are cooled.


Do cooled substances expand?

Yes


When substances get cooler they expand or contract?

Contract


Why can the temperature of a substance remain the same even if the substance is absorbing thermal energy?

That can't happen, unless the object is losing thermal energy out the back doorat the same rate as it's absorbing thermal energy in front where you're watching.There's no getting around the rules:More thermal energy inside = higher temperature.Less thermal energy inside = lower temperature.Excuse me, I just thought of the exception ... that's when the substance is changingstate, between solid / liquid / gas.The reason is that, for example, it takes more thermal energy for the moleculesof water to act like a liquid than it takes for them to act like a solid, even thoughthe water and the ice are both at the same temperature.Holy moley ! There's another one. If you pump thermal energy into a sample ofgas AND let the gas expand at the same time, you can adjust things so thatthe temperature remains constant.

Related questions

How can a liquid expand without changing state?

A liquid can expand when thermal energy is absorbed which is known as thermal expansion, but the thermal energy is not enough to change the liquid's state. When there is enough thermal energy, the liquid may change to a gas if the particles move fast enough to escape the liquid or it may change to a solid if the thermal energy is released from the matter.


When most substances absorb heat energy they?

expand


What happens to substances as they lose or gain energy?

expand or contract


The process of burning gas in a car engine to release what kind of energy?

Initially thermal energy which then causes the gases in the cylinders to expand and produce mechanical energy


How do cars use thermal energy?

Internal combustion engines use the oxidation of vaporized fuel to release thermal energy. This energy causes the gases present to expand rapidly, and this expansion is converted to mechanical energy by the pistons as they move up and down on the camshaft.


What two substances causes an exothermic reaction?

Many substances can "cause" (or participate in) exothermic reactions. An exothermic reaction is a reaction that gives off thermal energy, as opposed to an endothermic reactionwhich requires the input of energy to occur. A classic example of an exothermic reaction is the burning of gasoline in an automobile engine. Gasoline is ignited to induce an exothermic combustion reaction with free oxygen in the air. The reaction causes the release of thermal energy which is converted to mechanical energy as the resulting gasses expand inside the engine's combustion chamber. Excess thermal energy is also released into the cylinder walls of the engine. So much so that your car has a coolant system just to absorb the excess thermal energy into a water-based coolant, and dissipate it from your radiator. Lots of heat energy being given off=exothermic reaction. And again, there are many different exothermic reactions involving many different substances.


Why does an object bend when you heat it?

When you heat an object, its molecules start to vibrate more vigorously. This increased thermal energy causes the atoms or molecules to move further apart, leading to expansion. As a result, the object will undergo thermal expansion, causing it to bend or deform if it is not uniformly heated.


Is it true that a change of state occurs when the thermal energy of a substance increases or decreases by a sufficient amount?

Yes. When substances are heated, they expand into liquids, gasses, or plasmas, and conversly, when cooled, they contract in the opposite manner. This is due to thermal properties of atomic structures. Heat causes an atom's electrons to reach higher orbits, and thus spread farther apart.


Why do substances expand when temperature is increased?

When the temperature of a substance is increased, its molecules or atoms jiggle faster and move farther apart, on the average. The result is an expansion of the substance. With a few exceptions, all forms of matter--solids, liquids, gases, and plasmas--generally expand when they are heated and contract when they are cooled.


When do substances expand?

Yes.


What is thermal expansion and contraction?

when your feet go in shoes and then your feet expand and contract so your shoes will not fit.


What is the characteristic of matter that causes it to expand when the temperature increases and contract when the temperature decreases?

The characteristic of matter that causes it to expand when the temperature increases and contract when the temperature decreases is known as thermal expansion. This is because as the temperature rises, the particles within the material gain kinetic energy and move more, causing the material to expand. Conversely, when the temperature decreases, the particles lose kinetic energy and move less, leading to contraction.