Chapter 17, Problem 1TC

Water molecules vibrate and jostle about at different speeds depending upon where they are located. Rank the speed of water molecules found in a steam-hot geyser, a frozen glacier and a flowing river

To determine

The ranking of the speed of water molecules found in a steam - hot geyser, a frozen glacier and a flowing river

Answer to Problem 1TC

The rank of the speed of water molecules found in a steam-hot geyser, a frozen glacier and a flowing river is:

steam-hot geyser > a flowing river > a frozen glacier

Explanation of Solution

Solid, liquid and gaseous forms are the phases of matter and they are distinguished by the attractions between the particles that hold them. The attractions between the particles in solid, liquid and gaseous states are:

$$\begin{array}{l}\text{Solid > Liquid > Gaseous}\\ \end{array}$$

It means the particles in solid phase are very strongly attracted and remain fixed and the particles in gaseous phase have least attractions so the particles move freely. The particles in liquid phase have intermediate attractions so the particles do not remain at fixed positions and have fluid character.

The water molecules in steam-hot geyser are gaseous molecules, so the attractions between the molecules are least and the speed of water molecules is highest. The water molecules present in frozen glacier are in solid phase so the attractions between the molecules are very strong and their speed is slowest. And the water molecules in the flowing river are in liquid phase with intermediate attractions between them so the speed of water molecules is less than in steam-hot geyser but more than in frozen glacier.

Conclusion:

Therefore the rank of speed of water molecules is:

steam-hot geyser > a flowing river > a frozen glacier