How does temperature affect the average kinetic energy of gas particles?

Temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in a substance. In the case of a gas, as the temperature increases, the average kinetic energy of the gas particles also increases. This is because temperature is directly related to the speed at which the particles move; when energy is added to a gas (for instance, by heating it), the molecules gain energy, which increases their movement and, correspondingly, their kinetic energy.

This principle is rooted in the kinetic theory of gases, which states that the kinetic energy of an individual gas particle can be expressed as a function of temperature. Specifically, the average kinetic energy of gas particles is proportional to the absolute temperature (measured in Kelvin). Therefore, as temperature rises, the average kinetic energy increases, leading to greater particle speeds and interactions.

The other possibilities suggest either no relationship or a decrease in kinetic energy with increased temperature, which contradicts the fundamental principles of kinetic theory. Thus, the correct understanding reinforces that heating a gas indeed results in an increase in average kinetic energy.