The particles which of the following gases has the highest/lowest average speed? Which gas particles have the highest/lowest average kinetic energy? a.) argon at 20°C. b.)nitrogen at 20°C b.) nitrogen at 100°C. c.) helium at 100°C
1 Answer
Highest speed: Helium at
Lowest speed: Argon at
Highest kinetic energy: Nitrogen and helium at
Lowest kinetic energy: Nitrogen and argon at
Explanation:
Temperature is a measure of average kinetic energy.
Therefore, at the same temperature, gases have the same average kinetic energy.
But different gas particles move at different speeds with this kinetic energy—gases with smaller particles tend to be moving faster at the same temperature, which means they have a higher speed.
At variable temperatures, gases with both smaller particles and higher temperatures will have a higher speed.
Here are our choices:
- Argon at
#20°C# . - Nitrogen at
#20°C# . - Nitrogen at
#100°C# . - Helium at
#100°C# .
Helium has both the smallest particles and is at the high temperature of
Argon has the biggest particles and is at the low temperature of
Particles at the same temperature have the same average kinetic energy, so argon and nitrogen, which are at
Nitrogen and helium, at