gen chem problem # 43 DAT DESTROYER 2011 version

[dentcal]

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true or false question:

all molecules of an ideal gas have the same kinetic energy at constant temperature.

it says that the above statement is false but i thought that kinetic energy is directly proportional to temperature or at least that's what chad taught. the solution explains the botltzmann distribution curve. can any help here?

 

[sacapuntas]

true or false question:

all molecules of an ideal gas have the same kinetic energy at constant temperature.

it says that the above statement is false but i thought that kinetic energy is directly proportional to temperature or at least that's what chad taught. the solution explains the botltzmann distribution curve. can any help here?

The average kinetic energy of ideal gasses is the same at constant temperature. Individual molecules may have much higher or lower kinetic energy, but the average will be the same. That peak of the curve is basically the average kinetic energy, but molecules will have energies in amounts all along that curve. The lower the point on the curve, the fewer molecules with energy at that level.

 

[dentcal]

so if the statement said the average kinetic energy rather that kinetic energy then it would have been true right? thanks for the explanation!

 

[sacapuntas]

so if the statement said the average kinetic energy rather that kinetic energy then it would have been true right? thanks for the explanation!

It would have to leave out 'all the molecules' to be correct.