Containers A and B each hold the same number of atoms of an ideal monatomic gas in…
PHYSICS · Multi-part · CBSE · Physics · Kinetic Theory · Kinetic Theory
Problem
Containers A and B each hold the same number of atoms of an ideal monatomic gas in thermal equilibrium. Container A is maintained at 300 K, while container B is maintained at 600 K.
Assume the gases behave ideally and that no energy is exchanged with the surroundings.
(a) Describe qualitatively how the shapes of the speed distributions of the atoms in the two containers differ from one another.
(b) Explain why doubling the absolute temperature doubles the translational kinetic energy averaged over the atoms, even though individual atoms in a distribution may have a wide range of speeds.
(c) The most probable speed (the peak of the distribution) occurs at a particular value that depends on temperature. Predict whether the most probable speed in container B is less than, equal to, or greater than that in container A, and justify your answer without performing any calculations.