Activation Energy and Temperature Dependence of Rates

[Ava Harvey 2B]

Why is it that reactions with low activation energies have rates that increase only slightly with temperature, while reactions with high activation energies have rates that depend strongly on the temperature? I am a little confused on this relationship between activation energy and temperature dependence of rates. Any explanation would help, thanks so much!

[Michelle Chernyak 1J]

Because they have low activation energies, these reactions only require a small energy input in order to occur, therefore increasing the temperature would not make that big of a difference. This is because the reaction is already close to happening and therefore does not need a huge input so there would not be a big jump. Hope this helps!

[LMendoza 2I]

Also quick remark, the larger the activation energy is the higher the temperature will need to be to provide sufficient energy to overcome the high activation energy. So high activation energies really depend on strong temperatures.