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G2.1 THE ENERGY OF INDIVIDUAL PARTICLES
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In a sample of stuff in the gas state the particles do not all have the same energy: some particles are more energetic than others.

The particles are moving around, crashing and bouncing off each other all the time.

When particles collide, they can pass on energy to other particles or pick up energy from other particles, but the total energy of the sample stays the same.

The particles do not all have the same energy. There will be a range of energies but we will think in terms of three 'bands'. At any one time we can say that:

some of the particles will be very energetic
and will have a high energy;
some of the particles will be moderately
energetic and will have a medium energy;
some of the particles be slightly energetic and will have a low energy

In our particle diagrams, we will use different colours to show energies as follows:

 
not applicable



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g1: evaporation
g2: energy
g3: explaining
g4: boiling
g5: comparing rates

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