To determine the correct ranking of the phases of matter (solid, liquid, and gas) from the one with the least kinetic energy to the one with the greatest kinetic energy, let's consider the properties of each phase:
1. Solid:
- Particles in a solid phase are tightly packed together and have very limited movement.
- The particles can only vibrate in place, leading to the least amount of kinetic energy compared to the other phases.
2. Liquid:
- Particles in a liquid phase are more loosely packed than in a solid.
- They have the ability to move and slide past each other, resulting in a higher kinetic energy than solids but lower than gases.
3. Gas:
- Particles in a gas phase are spread far apart and move freely at high speeds.
- This leads to the highest kinetic energy among the three phases.
Considering these properties, the ranking from least kinetic energy to greatest kinetic energy is:
1. Solid (least)
2. Liquid (intermediate)
3. Gas (greatest)
Therefore, the correct answer is represented by the first table:
\begin{tabular}{|c|c|}
\hline Least & solid \\
\hline[tex]$\downarrow$[/tex] & liquid \\
\hline Greatest & gas \\
\hline
\end{tabular}
