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Think of molecules as people in a crowd. If people start getting angry and want some space, they'll start pushing away from each other. If you start calming them down they'll eventually be more centent with being together again. This a crude but ultimately legitimate way of explaining why things decrease in volume when they get cooler. When molecules get hotter they begin to vibrate as they gain more engergy. Not in the sound producing way, but on a molecular level. You remove the energy they slow down their vibrations and come together more compactly. It's why oxygen can go from a gas, to a liquid, and then if you try really hard, you could probably get solid oxygen

This a basic principle and can differ in magnitude from substance to substance. Elements definately work this way, but compounds may differ for other reasons.

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What happens to the volume of most substances when they get colder?

Most substances contract and decrease in volume when they get colder because the decrease in temperature causes the particles to move slower and closer together. This is due to the decrease in thermal energy, resulting in a decrease in the average kinetic energy of the particles.


What are two physical changes that cooling a hot substance may resuit in?

Cooling a hot substance may result in the molecules slowing down, leading to a decrease in volume and contraction of the substance. Additionally, cooling can cause a phase change, such as from a liquid to a solid, as the substance reaches its freezing point.


Do gases and solids contract when cooled?

Yes, both gases and solids contract when cooled due to a decrease in temperature causing the particles to move more slowly and come closer together. In solids, cooling causes the particles to vibrate less and pack more tightly. In gases, cooling reduces the kinetic energy of the particles, leading to less forceful collisions and a decrease in volume.


What will happen to the density if you keep the volume the same and you decrease the mass?

If you decrease the mass while keeping the volume constant, the density of the object will decrease. Density is calculated by dividing mass by volume, so a decrease in mass with a constant volume will result in a lower density.


What is the relationship between sound distance and the perception of volume in a given environment?

The relationship between sound distance and the perception of volume in a given environment is that as sound travels further away from the source, it tends to decrease in volume. This is due to the dispersion of sound waves over distance, resulting in a decrease in intensity and perceived loudness.

Related Questions

When pressure is kept constant a gas causes its volume to decrease A cooling B heating C maintaining the temperature of?

When pressure is kept constant, a gas causes its volume to decrease when it is cooled. This is described by Charles's Law, which states that at constant pressure, the volume of a gas is directly proportional to its temperature in Kelvin. Therefore, cooling the gas leads to a reduction in its volume.


How can solids liquids and gases be made to contract?

Solids, liquids, and gases can be made to contract by reducing their temperature. Cooling these substances causes their particles to move more slowly, resulting in a decrease in volume. This decrease in volume leads to contraction of the material.


What two liquids when mixed decrease in volume?

When acetone and water are mixed together, they can decrease in volume due to their different molecular structures and interactions. This decrease in volume is caused by the formation of a solution where the molecules of both liquids are able to fill the spaces between each other, resulting in a denser overall volume.


What happens to the volume of most substances when they get colder?

Most substances contract and decrease in volume when they get colder because the decrease in temperature causes the particles to move slower and closer together. This is due to the decrease in thermal energy, resulting in a decrease in the average kinetic energy of the particles.


What are two physical changes that cooling a hot substance may resuit in?

Cooling a hot substance may result in the molecules slowing down, leading to a decrease in volume and contraction of the substance. Additionally, cooling can cause a phase change, such as from a liquid to a solid, as the substance reaches its freezing point.


What is cooling of air expansion caused by?

Cooling of air expansion is caused by adiabatic expansion, where the air moves into a larger volume with no heat exchange with the surroundings. As the air expands, it does work on its surroundings, leading to a decrease in temperature due to the conservation of energy principle. This process is often observed in various natural phenomena and industrial applications, such as in refrigeration systems and weather patterns.


Do gases and solids contract when cooled?

Yes, both gases and solids contract when cooled due to a decrease in temperature causing the particles to move more slowly and come closer together. In solids, cooling causes the particles to vibrate less and pack more tightly. In gases, cooling reduces the kinetic energy of the particles, leading to less forceful collisions and a decrease in volume.


What is process cooling?

evaporation Cooling is a decrease of the temperature of a system or material.


How does cooling affect the volume of the substance?

No. Actually evaporation is the vaporisation from the surface of liquid, so its not matters that how much volume is the water of, because the rate of evaporation is depends upon the area of surface.


Do gases decrease in mass when cooled?

When gases are cooled, their mass does not decrease; the mass remains constant regardless of temperature changes. However, cooling a gas causes its molecules to move more slowly, leading to a decrease in volume and density. This behavior is described by the ideal gas law, which shows how temperature, volume, and pressure are interrelated, but mass itself stays the same.


A sealed container filled with 1 mole of gas is cooled to -45C what effect will this have on the gas inside?

Cooling the gas will decrease its temperature and therefore reduce its average kinetic energy. This will result in a decrease in pressure and volume of the gas inside the sealed container.


The volume of air in a balloon decreases as soon as it is taken out of the warm store and into the cold air This is due to?

System volume of a gas is directly related to pressure, volume, amount of molecules, and the gas constant. When the balloon is moved to cooler air it loses heat. The loss in temperature results in a contraction of volume.