Thermal Energy and Waves Study Guide

What happens to particles in a substance when thermal energy is added?

• They move more slowly

• They move more rapidly

• They stop moving completely

• They maintain the same speed

Which state of matter typically has particles with the least kinetic energy?

• Gas

• Liquid

• Solid

• Plasma

When thermal energy is removed from water, what change occurs at 0°C?

• It becomes a gas

• It becomes a solid

• It remains a liquid

• It disappears completely

What happens to the temperature of a substance when thermal energy is added?

• It increases

• It stays the same

• It decreases

• It fluctuates randomly

Which material would be best for minimizing thermal energy transfer?

• Metal

• Glass

• Insulating foam

• Aluminum foil

What happens to wave energy when it hits a mirror?

• It is only absorbed

• It is only transmitted

• It is primarily reflected

• It disappears completely

When measuring thermal energy transfer, what factor affects the temperature change?

• Color of the container

• Shape of the container

• Mass of the substance

• Time of day

Which best describes the particle arrangement in a liquid?

• Particles are fixed in place

• Particles move freely with no pattern

• Particles slide past one another

• Particles are very far apart

What happens to most materials when thermal energy is added?

• They contract

• They expand

• They maintain the same size

• They disappear

Which wave property describes how a wave passes through a material?

• Reflection

• Transmission

• Absorption

• Generation