Water is evaporating from an open container at room temperature.
Which statement correctly describes the molecular process of evaporation and its effect on the remaining liquid?
Only the molecules with the highest kinetic energy escape from the surface, causing the average kinetic energy of the remaining molecules to decrease.
Only the molecules with the lowest kinetic energy escape from the surface, causing the average kinetic energy of the remaining molecules to increase.
Any molecule can escape from any part of the liquid, leaving the average kinetic energy of the remaining molecules unchanged.
Molecules of any energy can escape but only from the surface, keeping the average kinetic energy of the remaining molecules constant.
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.