Why does gas have the most potential energy compared to solid and liquid?

[akimhaneul]

Why?

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[8_man]

We'll keep it simple and say energy is the same thing as heat (not entirely true, but for the sake of this explanation it will suffice).

When you boil water, the H2O molecules go from a liquid state to a gas state. To do this, you need to heat the water up. The boiled water (now in a gaseous state) is really hot and can be considered full of potential energy.

Conversely, you would need to lower the temperature of water considerably to form ice. This would require a loss of heat, and thus, a loss of potential energy.

Hope this makes sense.

 

[akimhaneul]

We'll keep it simple and say energy is the same thing as heat (not entirely true, but for the sake of this explanation it will suffice).

When you boil water, the H2O molecules go from a liquid state to a gas state. To do this, you need to heat the water up. The boiled water (now in a gaseous state) is really hot and can be considered full of potential energy.

Conversely, you would need to lower the temperature of water considerably to form ice. This would require a loss of heat, and thus, a loss of potential energy.

Hope this makes sense.

So basically like having more potential energy means more energetic in general due to added heat?


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[8_man]

So basically like having more potential energy means more energetic in general due to added heat?


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

You could think of it like that. When you think of energy, think of motion and heat. Among gas, liquids, and solids, gas is the most free-flowing substance and requires a significant amount of heat to produce it. Hence, it has the most potential energy.

This video kind of explains what I'm trying to say.