What is the effect of temperature on the kinetic energy of particles?

Higher temperature increases the kinetic energy of particles due to the nature of thermal energy. As the temperature of a substance rises, the particles within that substance gain more energy, causing them to move more rapidly. This increase in movement reflects a corresponding increase in kinetic energy, which is essentially the energy of motion.

In the context of molecular behavior, when temperature increases, the average speed of the molecules increases, leading to more vigorous collisions between them. This relationship is foundational in thermodynamics and is often illustrated using the kinetic molecular theory, which describes how temperature and kinetic energy are directly proportional. Consequently, the understanding of this principle is essential for explaining various phenomena in physics and chemistry, such as changes in states of matter, diffusion rates, and reaction kinetics.