Internal Energy
- Created by: theninjaemu
- Created on: 10-07-17 15:48
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- Internal energy
- Internal energy and absolute zero
- Internal energy is the sum of the randomly distributed kinetic and potential energies of atoms or molecules within a substance
- Absolute zero is the lowest temperature possible
- The kinetic energy of molecules or atoms is zero i.e. they have stopped moving
- However, internal energy isn't zero, because there is still electrostatic potential energy stored between the particles
- Increasing internal energy of a body
- Increasing the temperature of a body increases its internal energy
- As temperature increases, average kinetic energy in the body also increases
- When a substance changes phase, temperature and kinetic energy remain constant, but electrostatic potential energy increases significantly
- Electrostatic potential energy increases as electrical forces between atoms or molecules change
- Once a phase change is complete, the kinetic energy of atoms and molecules increases and the temperature increases again
- Different phases have differing electrostatic potential energies
- Gases have zero electrostatic potential energy because there are negligible electrical forces between molecules
- In liquids, electrostatic forces give the electrostatic potential energy a negative value, because energy has to be supplied to break the atomic or molecular bonds
- In solids, electrostatic forces are very large, so the electrostatic potential energy has a large negative value
- Internal energy and absolute zero
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