How does energy affect states of matter?

States of matter change due to the surrounding energy. Think of H2O in its 3 forms: liquid- water, solid- ice, and gas- steam. When there is little to no energy, molecules slow down to almost no movement. These molecules that aren’t moving much at all have become solid (and cold.)

Adding more energy, in the form of temperature, allows the molecules to begin moving again, which melts the solid into liquid. If you were to place that water over a flame for an extended period of time, the molecules would move extremely fast and eventually evaporate into steam. Basically, adding or removing energy from a state of matter can transform it into a solid, liquid, or a gas.

Energy can change the state of matter and can affect density, pressure, and temperature. It can cause deformation of matter, and it can also cause disintegration to other substances. Energy is needed for motion, and the more energy material has, the faster is its motion. Decreases in energy equal reductions in the movement of a substance.

If there is more kinetic energy, the particles move faster and further apart. The more energy in is proportional to a higher temperature. How the energy affects the state of the matter determines how the energy changes. The primary energy states include chemical, radiant, thermal, mechanical, electrical, and nuclear.