As the temperature of any substance increases, how do the molecules behave?

As the temperature of any substance increases, the molecules gain kinetic energy and move more rapidly. This increased energy causes the molecules to vibrate faster. This is a fundamental principle of thermodynamics, where temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in a substance. When the temperature rises, the energy transferred to the molecules allows them to overcome some of the forces holding them together, leading to increased movement.

In contrast, if the temperature were to decrease, the molecules would vibrate slower as they would lose kinetic energy. The other options incorrectly suggest behaviors that do not occur with an increase in temperature. When molecules spread out, it often pertains to gases at higher temperatures, but it does not directly address how their vibrations change. Similarly, condensing closer refers to the behavior of particles at lower temperatures or when cooling occurs. Understanding these concepts is vital in grasping how temperature influences molecular movement and behavior in various states of matter.