Well, I'm not completely sure, but, I'm going to try and help you: First, you would need to observe the machine, which, would represent the first step. Secondly, you would have to ask yourself a question, when the ball shoots out, which way are you going to hit it? Next, you'd have to hypothesize, which way the ball will come, which way will give you the most points. etc, etc. Then, you'd make a prediction based on your hypothesis, predict the direction that will give you the most points, and which way the ball will fall. Now, when the ball shoots out, you'd gave to test your prediction, then you'd see if your hypothesis was correct. Lastly, you would iterate, and, come up with new hypotheses, and, predictions, for when you play on round two, this would, also, help you get better at the game, just as, when you perform other scientific experiments, you would have a better idea on what would happen during them. I hope this helps!!!
The more solid a substance is, the less kinetic energy there is. This is because there is not a lot of space for the atoms in the solid state to move. However, in the gaseous state, the atoms are far apart with plenty of space, this lets them create a lot more kinetic energy. Solids have a lot more intermolecular forces because the atoms are together. The IMF (intermolecular force) is what lets the atoms/molecules stick together. In the solid state, all the atoms are stuck together with little to no room in between. In the liquid state, it has a lot of IMF but is weaker then the IMF in the solid state. This is why you have so much resistance when you try to move through water. In the gaseous state, there is little to no IMF because the atoms are all so far apart. This makes it easier for everyone to move around.
To answer your question more directly: As the substance is heated to its melting point, there is an increase in kinetic energy, but decrease in intermolecular forces.
Because the scale is much larger, and a larger pool can collect more energy than a small pool, and it is more likely that it would have more energy spread throughout it.
