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Grade 10Mechanics

Taking into account how the potential energy of a system of two identical molecules is related to the separation of their centers, explain why a liquid that is spread out in a thin layer has more potential energy than the same mass of liquid in the shape of a sphere.

Profile image of Hrishant Goswami
11 Years agoGrade 10
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1 Answer

Profile image of Jitender Pal
11 Years ago
The potential energy of a system of two identical molecules is inversely proportional to the distance between the two molecules. Compressing or applying pressure to a layer, a thin layer can be formed. So the molecules present in the thin layer are very close to each other. But in the sphere the molecules are spread out. Therefore the intermolecular distance between the molecules are less than the molecules present in the shape of a sphere. That is why a liquid that is spread out in a thin layer has more potential energy than the same mass of liquid in the shape of a sphere.