What do higher temperatures indicate about molecular movement?

Higher temperatures indicate more energy and increased molecular vibrations. When the temperature of a substance rises, it provides more energy to the molecules, causing them to move more rapidly. This increased kinetic energy manifests as faster vibrations, rotations, and translations of the molecules.

At higher temperatures, the average velocity of the molecules increases, resulting in more frequent and vigorous collisions between them. This is critical in processes such as diffusion and chemical reactions, where the energy and movement of molecules play a significant role in the rates and interactions of reactions. The molecular kinetic energy directly correlates to temperature—higher temperatures translate to higher energy levels within the molecules. Hence, the relationship between temperature and molecular movement is fundamental to understanding thermodynamics and the behavior of matter.