Which statement correctly explains why evaporation causes the temperature of a liquid to decrease?
Only the least energetic molecules escape from the surface of the liquid.
The most energetic molecules escape from the surface, reducing the average kinetic energy of the remaining molecules.
Molecules absorb thermal energy and escape from both the surface and deep within the liquid.
The liquid undergoes an endothermic chemical reaction during evaporation that absorbs heat.
528 exam-style questions on CIE IGCSE Physics 2.2 Thermal properties and temperature, covering 2.2.1 Thermal expansion of solids, liquids and gases, 2.2.2a Internal energy and temperature, 2.2.2b Specific heat capacity, 2.2.3a Melting, boiling, condensation and solidification, 2.2.3b Evaporation, and 2.2.3c Cooling by evaporation. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.