Physics – 2.1.2 Particle model | e-Consult

The Kinetic Molecular Theory (KMT) postulates that all matter is composed of particles in constant, random motion. The KMT further states that the average kinetic energy of these particles is directly proportional to the absolute temperature of the substance. This means that the hotter the substance, the faster its particles are moving on average.

The average kinetic energy of a particle is related to its mass and speed. The formula for kinetic energy is KE = 1/2 * mv², where KE is kinetic energy, m is mass, and v is speed. Since the average kinetic energy is proportional to temperature, and temperature is a measure of the average speed of the particles, increasing the temperature increases the average speed of the particles. This is because at higher temperatures, more particles possess higher speeds, and these higher speeds contribute to a greater overall average kinetic energy. The increased thermal energy is transferred through collisions between particles.