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The kinetic energy of water molecules in ice is less than the kinetic energy of water

molecules in water and that is less than the kinetic energy of water molecules in stream.

That is because the range of temperatures where ice exists, -273C to 0C, is less than the range where water exists, 0C to 100C, which is less than the range where water gas exists, 100C and up. Kinetic energy climbs continuously with temperature through each phase.



Kinetic energy is the energy of motion, KE=mv

2/2.

All molecules have an average kinetic energy proportional to the absolute temperature, particularly, Translational kinetic energy =

3kT/2.

There is no maximum. Increasing temperature increases molecular kinetic energy until the energy destroys the molecule and then the fragments will have an average kinetic energy 3kT/2.

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12y ago

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