What is the effect of increasing the temperature of a gas on molecular motion?

Increasing the temperature of a gas leads to an increase in the kinetic energy of its molecules. As the temperature rises, the molecules gain energy and move more rapidly. In a gas, this increased kinetic energy translates directly into faster, more energetic molecular motion, resulting in greater frequency and intensity of collisions among the gas molecules.

Higher temperatures mean the molecules have greater average speeds and greater momentum. This enhanced molecular movement also affects other properties of the gas, such as pressure and volume, depending on how the gas is contained. The kinetic molecular theory of gases supports this by explaining that the temperature of a gas is a measure of the average kinetic energy of its molecules. Thus, as temperature increases, the motion of the gas molecules also increases.