A monoatomic hydrogen atom (treated as a point mass ) moves back and forth along a…
PHYSICS · Multi-part · A Level · Physics · Further mechanics and thermal physics · Further mechanics and thermal physics
Problem
A monoatomic hydrogen atom (treated as a point mass m) moves back and forth along a frictionless one-dimensional container of length L. Each end wall is perfectly rigid, and every collision between the atom and a wall is elastic.
Assume the atom’s speed immediately after colliding with the left wall is v0 directed toward the right wall.
(a) Determine the time interval between successive collisions of the atom with the left wall.
(b) Using your result from part (a), calculate the average magnitude of the force that the atom exerts on the left wall.
(c) If the cross-sectional area of each wall is A, express the average pressure on the left wall in terms of m, v0, L, and A.