Temperature and Kinetic Theory Temperature and Kinetic Theory

▪ The nature of matter

▪ Temperature and Thermometers
▪ Temperature Scales
▪ Thermal Expansion
▪ The Gas Laws and Absolute Temperature
Thermal Physics is the ▪ Ideal Gas Laws
study of temperature, ▪ Kinetic Theory of Gases
heat, and how they
affect matter.

The Nature of Matter The Nature of Matter

▪ Matter is atomic: ▪ In a solid material, the attractive forces are strong.
–Made up of huge numbers of particles ▪ In a liquid, the attractive forces are weaker and the
–Everyday objects contain 1023 to 1026 atoms or molecules atoms or molecules are moving more rapidly.
▪ In a gas, the forces are so weak, or the speeds so high,
▪ Each atom can take up energy: that the molecules do not even stay close together.
–Translation, rotation, vibration
We do not see these motions:
–The energy “disappears” into
the material
–We see melting, vapourisation
and changes in temperature

Crystalline Solid Liquid Gas

Phase diagram for water
Atomic arrangements
 Temperature Thermometers
▪ Temperature measures how hot or cold an ▪ Instruments designed to measure temperature are
object is. called Thermometers.
▪ The study of how to measure temperature is called
▪ Temperature is measured using a thermometric
thermometry.
property.
▪ Many common thermometers rely on the
expansion of a material with an
increase in temperature e.g. Mercury
or Alcohol
▪ The freezing point of a substance is
defined as that temperature at which
the solid and liquid phases coexist in
equilibrium.
▪ The boiling point is defined as that
temperature at which the liquid and gas
coexist in equilibrium.

Temperature scales
Conversion of Temperatures
Fahrenheit Celsius
Formula for conversion:

Example: Fahrenheit Celsius

 Kelvin (Absolute) Temperature Converting between temperature units
All scientific formulae assume 𝑻 is absolute
temperature

Which gives

ALWAYS CONVERT TEMPERATURES TO KELVIN

BEFORE USING THEM IN FORMULAE –only
exception: formula contains 𝑻-difference

Example Example
(a) “Room temperature” is often taken to be 68°F. What
is this on the Celsius scale?
(b) The temperature of the filament in a lightbulb is A thermometer tells you that you have a fever of
about 1900°C. What is this on the Fahrenheit scale? 38.9°C. What is this in Fahrenheit?

Solution: Solution:
𝟓 𝟓
(a) 𝑻 ℃ = 𝑻 ℉ − 𝟑𝟐 = 𝟔𝟖 − 𝟑𝟐 = 𝟐𝟎℃ 𝟗 𝟗
𝑻 ℉ = 𝑻℃ + 𝟑𝟐 = 𝟑𝟖. 𝟗℃ + 𝟑𝟐 = 𝟏𝟎𝟐. 𝟎℉
𝟗 𝟗
𝟗 𝟗 𝟓 𝟓
(b) 𝑻 ℉ = 𝑻℃ + 𝟑𝟐 = 𝟏𝟗𝟎𝟎 + 𝟑𝟐 = 𝟑𝟒𝟓𝟐℉
𝟓 𝟓
 Example MCQ 11
Winter weather in Darien January 2026 is shown
below. What is this temperature in Celsius?
What is the Fahrenheit temperature at 18°below zero
on the Celsius scale?

(A) 𝟐𝟖. 𝟖𝒐𝑭

(B) −𝟐𝟖. 𝟖𝒐𝑭
(C) 𝟎. 𝟒𝒐𝑭
(D) −𝟎. 𝟒𝒐𝑭

Solution:
𝟓 𝟓
𝑻 ℃ = 𝑻 ℉ − 𝟑𝟐 = −𝟏𝟕 − 𝟑𝟐 = −𝟐𝟕. 𝟐℃
𝟗 𝟗

MCQ 11 Thermal Expansion

▪ Most materials expand uniformly when heated
What is the Fahrenheit temperature at 18°below zero
and contract when cooled.
on the Celsius scale? ▪ Exception: Water
–Water expands at all temperatures when heated,
(A) 𝟐𝟖. 𝟖𝒐𝑭 except in the range 0oC – 4oC, when it contracts!!!
(B) −𝟐𝟖. 𝟖𝒐𝑭 –Water has maximum density at 4oC
(C) 𝟎. 𝟒𝒐𝑭 -important consequences for survival of aquatic
(D) −𝟎. 𝟒𝒐𝑭 animals.

Solution: ▪ This behaviour and phenomenon is called the

𝟗 𝟗
𝑻 ℉ = 𝑻℃ + 𝟑𝟐 = −𝟏𝟖 + 𝟑𝟐 = −𝟎. 𝟒℉ “Anomalous expansion of water”
𝟓 𝟓
 The anomalous expansion of water Linear Expansion of Solids
▪ Solid objects (like a rod, or the side of a solid
or plate) has length 𝑳𝒐 at initial temperature 𝑻𝒐 .
▪ Object is heated to final temperature 𝑻𝒇
▪ What is its final length 𝑳𝒇 ?
▪ To answer, define the following notation:

Behavior of water as a function of temperature near 4°C.

(a) Volume of 1.00000 gram of water as a function of
temperature.
(b) Density vs. temperature. [Note the break in each axis.]

Linear Expansion of Solids Fundamental Equation of Linear Expansion

▪ To quantify linear expansion rate (i.e. rate of

increase of length per unit increase of
temperature), define

where 𝜶 is called the “Coefficient of linear

expansion” of the material, defined as increase in
length per unit length per unit rise in temperature.
Unit: ℃−𝟏
 Volume Expansion Volume Expansion
▪ Consider a cube of side 𝑳𝟏 at temperature 𝑻𝟏 : ▪ This has the same form as the equation for linear
it has Area 𝑽𝟏 = 𝑳𝟏 𝟑 expansion, but with 𝜶 replaced by 𝜷 = 𝟑𝜶
▪ Heat it to temperature 𝑻𝟐 ▪ We call 𝜸 the Coefficient of volume expansion
▪ Sides expand to length 𝑳𝟐 : its volume has thus ▪ The formula for volume expansion is thus
become 𝑽𝟐 = 𝑳𝟐 𝟑 𝑽 = 𝑽𝒐 𝟏 + 𝜷 𝑻 − 𝑻𝒐 = 𝑽𝒐 [𝟏 + 𝜷(∆𝑻)]
∆𝑽
▪ From this formula, note that 𝜷 =
𝑽𝒐 ∆𝑻

Coefficients of Expansion
Application of Thermal Expansion
Expansion can be put to good use:
–Bimetallic strip: Two metals with different
coefficients of expansion fastened together
 Thermal Stress Thermal Stress
▪ For example, if 10-m-long concrete slabs are placed
▪ Thermal stress can be defined as Stress caused due touching each other in a new park you are designing, a
to the change in temperature. 30°C increase in temperature would produce a thermal
▪ Stress is the Force acting per unit Area. stress:
▪ When the applied force is in the form of temperature, 𝑭
the resultant stress is called Thermal stress. = 𝜶𝒀∆𝑻
▪ Suppose we have a bar subjected to an axial load with 𝑨
temperature change, we have
𝟏𝑭 = (𝟏𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟔 ℃−𝟏 )(𝟐𝟎 × 𝟏𝟎𝟗 𝑵/𝒎𝟐 )(𝟑𝟎℃)
▪ ∆𝑳 = 𝑳 and ∆𝑳 = 𝜶𝑳𝒐 ∆𝑻
𝒀𝑨 𝒐
▪ Equating the two change in length, we have;
𝟏𝑭 = 𝟕. 𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎𝟔 𝑵/𝒎𝟐
𝜶𝑳𝒐 ∆𝑻 = 𝑳
𝒀𝑨 𝒐 ▪ That stress would exceed the shear strength of concrete,
hence causing fracture and cracks.
𝑭
▪ Hence, the thermal stress = 𝜶𝒀∆𝑻 ▪ This is why soft spacers (or expansion joints) are placed
𝑨 between slabs on sidewalks and highways.

Implication of Thermal Expansion MCQ 12

A concrete highway is built of slabs 12 m long (15°C).
How wide should the expansion cracks between the slabs
be (at 15°C) to prevent buckling if the range of
temperature is -30°C to +50°C ?
Given that coefficient of linear expansion for concrete
is 𝟏𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟔 /℃.

(A) 𝟓. 𝟎𝟒 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟑 𝒎
(B) 6. 𝟒𝟖 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟑 𝒎
(C) 𝟐. 𝟏𝟔 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟑 𝒎
Thermal expansion: The extreme (D) 11. 𝟓𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟑 𝒎
heat of a summer day in Asbury
Park, New Jersey, caused these
railroad tracks to buckle
 MCQ 12 Example
A concrete highway is built of slabs 12 m long (15°C).
How wide should the expansion cracks between the slabs
To what temperature would you have to heat a
be (at 15°C) to prevent buckling if the range of brass rod for it to be 1.5% longer than it is at
temperature is -30°C to +50°C ? 25°C? Given that 𝜶𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒔𝒔 = 𝟏𝟗 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟔 ℃−𝟏 .
(A) 𝟓. 𝟎𝟒 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟑 𝒎
(B) 6. 𝟒𝟖 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟑 𝒎 Solution: Given
∆𝑳
= 𝟏. 𝟓%, 𝑻𝒐 = 𝟐𝟓℃, 𝑻 =?
(C) 𝟐. 𝟏𝟔 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟑 𝒎 𝑳𝒐
(D) 11. 𝟓𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟑 𝒎 The increase in length of the rod is given by
∆𝑳
Solution: When the concrete cools in the winter, it will contract, and ∆𝑳 = 𝜶𝑳𝒐 ∆𝑻; ∆𝑻 =
𝜶𝑳𝒐
there will be no danger of buckling. But when the concrete warms in
the summer, it will expand. A crack must be left between the slabs ∆𝑳 𝟎. 𝟎𝟏𝟓
equal to the increase in length of the concrete as it heats from 15°C
𝑻 = 𝑻𝒐 + = 𝟐𝟓℃ + = 𝟖𝟏𝟒. 𝟓℃
𝜶𝑳𝒐 𝟏𝟗 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟔 ℃−𝟏
to 50°C.
∆𝑳 = 𝜶𝑳𝒐 ∆𝑻 = 𝟏𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟔 𝟏𝟐 𝟓𝟎℃ − 𝟏𝟓℃
= 𝟓. 𝟎 × 𝟏𝟎 −𝟑𝒎

Example Example
Solution: Given 𝑽𝒐 = 𝟓𝟓. 𝟓 𝒎𝑳; 𝑻𝒐 = 𝟐𝟎℃; 𝑻𝟏 = 𝟔𝟎℃;
It is observed that 55.50 mL of water at 20°C 𝒎𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒕 = 𝟎. 𝟑𝟓 𝒈; 𝜷𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒓 =? 𝝆 = 𝟎. 𝟗𝟖𝟑𝟐𝟒 𝒈/𝒎𝑳
completely fills a container to the brim. When (a) The amount of water lost is the final volume of the
the container and the water are heated to 60°C, water minus final volume of the container.
0.35 g of water is lost. Assuming that the 𝑽𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒕 = (𝑽𝒐 +∆𝑽)𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓 − (𝑽𝒐 +∆𝑽)𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒓
original volume of water and the container are
the same. = (∆𝑽)𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓 − ∆𝑽 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒓
= 𝜷𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑽𝒐 ∆𝑻 − 𝜷𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒓 𝑽𝒐 ∆𝑻
(a) What is the coefficient of volume expansion 𝑽𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒕
of the container? 𝜷𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒓 = 𝜷𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓 −
𝑽𝒐 ∆𝑻
(b) What is the most likely material of the 𝟎. 𝟑𝟓 𝒈
container? 𝟎. 𝟗𝟖𝟑𝟐𝟒 𝒈/𝒎𝑳
Given that density of water at 60°C is = 𝟐𝟏𝟎 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟔 /℃ −
𝟓𝟓. 𝟓𝟎 𝒎𝑳 𝟔𝟎℃ − 𝟐𝟎℃
𝟎. 𝟗𝟖𝟑𝟐𝟒 𝒈/𝒎𝑳 −𝟓
= 𝟓. 𝟎 × 𝟏𝟎 /℃
(b) Most likely material of the container is copper.
 Example Gas Law
An aluminum bar has the desired length when at ▪ For a given quantity of gas, it is found
12°C. How much thermal stress is required to experimentally that, to a good approximation,
keep it at this length if the temperature increases the volume of a gas is inversely proportional to
to 35°C? Given that 𝜶𝑨𝒍 = 𝟐𝟓 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟔 ℃−𝟏 . the absolute pressure applied to it when the
temperature is kept constant.
Young’s modulus for the aluminum is 𝟕𝟎 × 𝟏𝟎𝟗 𝑵/𝒎𝟐 . 𝟏
𝑽∝ (Constant 𝑻)
𝑷
Solution: Given 𝑻𝒐 = 𝟏𝟐℃,𝑻𝟏 = 𝟑𝟓℃ ▪ Boyle’s Law for constant 𝑻 and 𝒏:
F
Thermal Stress = 𝜶𝒀∆𝑻 𝑷𝑽 = 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕
𝑨
= (𝟐𝟓 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟔 ℃−𝟏 )(𝟕𝟎 × 𝟏𝟎𝟗 𝑵/𝒎𝟐 )(𝟑𝟓℃ − 𝟏𝟐℃)
= 𝟒. 𝟎 × 𝟏𝟎𝟕 𝑵/𝒎𝟐

Gas Law Gas Law

▪ To a good approximation, the volume of a fixed ▪ At constant volume, the absolute pressure of a
quantity of gas is directly proportional to the fixed quantity of a gas is directly proportional
absolute temperature when the pressure is kept to the absolute temperature. 𝑷 ∝ 𝑻 (Constant 𝑽)
constant. 𝑽 ∝ 𝑻 (Constant 𝑷)
▪ Gay-Lussac’s Law: for constant 𝑽 and 𝒏
▪ Charles’s Law for constant 𝑷 and 𝒏: 𝑷
= 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕
𝑻
𝑽
= 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕
𝑻
▪ All these laws are good approximations to the
behaviour of a real gas when its density is
sufficiently low, and the gas is not too close to
liquefaction.
▪ Gases that obey these laws are called
IDEAL GASES
 Ideal Gas Law Ideal Gas Law
▪ These laws can be combined into a single more ▪ Describing State of a gas
general relation among all three variables:
𝑷𝑽 = 𝒏𝑹𝑻 = 𝑵𝒌𝑻 -Description of matter is in terms of variables
that are not tied to a theory of its nature
▪ where 𝒏 = number of moles, 𝑹 is called the
universal gas constant (𝟖. 𝟑𝟏𝟒 𝐉/(𝐦𝐨𝐥. 𝐊)) ▪ Variables that describe a gas:
▪ In general, the number of moles, 𝒏, in a given 𝑷 = gas pressure;
sample of a pure substance is equal to the 𝑽 = gas volume;
mass of the sample in grams divided by the 𝑻 = gas temperature (in degrees Kelvin);
molecular mass specified as grams per mole 𝒏 (or 𝑵) = number of moles of gas
𝒎𝒂𝒔𝒔 (𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒎)
▪ 𝒏(𝒎𝒐𝒍𝒆) = 𝒈 (number of particles in the gas)
𝒎𝒐𝒍𝒂𝒓 𝒎𝒂𝒔𝒔 𝒎𝒐𝒍
▪ For example, the number of moles in 132 g of
𝟏𝟑𝟐 𝒈
CO2 (Molar mass 44 u) is 𝒏 = = 𝟑. 𝟎 𝒎𝒐𝒍
𝟒𝟒 𝒈/𝒎𝒐𝒍

Ideal Gas Law Problem solving with Ideal Gas Law

▪ 𝑷, 𝑽, 𝑻, 𝒏 are not independent variables ▪ We will often refer to standard temperature and
–They are related by one equation, called pressure (STP) as:
the equation of state also called, the ideal gas 𝑻 = 𝟐𝟕𝟑 𝑲 𝟎℃ ,
law: 𝑷𝑽 = 𝒏𝑹𝑻 = 𝑵𝒌𝑻 𝑷 = 𝟏. 𝟎𝟎 𝑨𝒕𝒎 = 𝟏. 𝟎𝟏𝟑 × 𝟏𝟎𝟓 𝑵/𝒎𝟐 = 𝟏. 𝟎𝟏𝟑 𝒌𝑷𝒂
▪ Here 𝑹 and 𝒌 are two related constants: 𝐕 = 𝟐𝟐. 𝟒 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟑 𝒎𝟑 (𝟏 𝐦𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐠𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐒𝐓𝐏)
𝑹 = 8314 Jmol-1K-1= Universal Gas Constant ▪ All problems involve an initial state and a final state.
▪ Denote initial state by 1, and final by 2.
𝑹 Before: 𝑷𝟏 𝑽𝟏 = 𝒏𝟏 𝑹𝑻𝟏
𝒌= = 𝟏. 𝟑𝟖 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟐𝟑 𝑱/𝑲 (𝐁𝐨𝐥𝐭𝐳𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭)
𝑵𝑨 After:𝑷𝟐 𝑽𝟐 = 𝒏𝟐 𝑹𝑻𝟐
𝑵𝑨 = 𝟔. 𝟎𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎𝟐𝟑 /𝒎𝒐𝒍 (𝐀𝐯𝐨𝐠𝐚𝐝𝐫𝐨′ 𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭) 𝑷𝟏 𝑽𝟏 𝑷𝟐 𝑽𝟐
▪ So, we have: =
𝒏𝟏 𝑻𝟏 𝒏𝟐 𝑻𝟐
 MCQ 13 MCQ 13
If 3.5 m3 of an ideal gas initially at STP is placed
If 3.5 m3 of a gas initially at STP is placed under a pressure of 3.20 atm, the temperature of the
under a pressure of 3.20 atm, the temperature gas rises to 38.0°C. What is the volume?
of the gas rises to 38.0°C. What is the (A) 𝟒𝟏. 𝟓𝟔 𝒎𝟑
volume? (B) 𝟐𝟗. 𝟓𝟗 𝒎𝟑
(C) 𝟏. 𝟐𝟓 𝒎𝟑
(A) 𝟒𝟏. 𝟓𝟔 𝒎𝟑 (D) 𝟏. 𝟎𝟗 𝒎𝟑
(B) 𝟐𝟗. 𝟓𝟗 𝒎𝟑
(C) 𝟏. 𝟐𝟓 𝒎𝟑 𝑷𝟏 𝑽𝟏 𝑷𝟏 𝑽𝟏
Solution: =
(D) 𝟏. 𝟎𝟗 𝒎𝟑 𝑻𝟏 𝑻𝟏
𝑷𝟏 𝑻𝟐 𝟏 𝒂𝒕𝒎 (𝟐𝟕𝟑 + 𝟑𝟖)𝑲
𝑽𝟐 = 𝑽𝟏 = 𝟑. 𝟓 𝒎𝟑
𝑷𝟐 𝑻𝟏 𝟑. 𝟐 𝒂𝒕𝒎 𝟐𝟕𝟑 𝑲
= 𝟏. 𝟐𝟓 𝒎𝟑

Example Solution:

A storage tank at STP contains 28.5 kg of Given 𝒎 = 𝟐𝟖. 𝟓 𝒌𝒈, 𝑻 = 𝟐𝟕𝟑 𝑲,

nitrogen 𝑷 = 𝟏 𝒂𝒕𝒎 = 𝟏. 𝟎𝟏𝟑 × 𝟏𝟎𝟓 𝑷𝒂
𝒎𝒂𝒔𝒔 𝟐𝟖. 𝟓 𝒌𝒈
(a) What is the volume of the tank? 𝒏= =
𝒎𝒐𝒍𝒂𝒓 𝒎𝒂𝒔𝒔 𝟐𝟖. 𝟎𝟏 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟑 𝒌𝒈/𝒎𝒐𝒍
(b) What is the pressure if an additional 32.2 kg
of nitrogen is added without changing the = 𝟏𝟎𝟏𝟕 𝒎𝒐𝒍
temperature? 𝑷𝑽 = 𝒏𝑹𝑻
𝒏𝑹𝑻 (𝟏𝟎𝟏𝟕 𝒎𝒐𝒍)(𝟖.𝟑𝟏𝟒 𝑱/𝒎𝒐𝒍)(𝟐𝟕𝟑 𝑲)
(a) 𝑽 = = 𝟓 = 𝟐𝟐. 𝟕𝟗 𝒎𝟑
𝑷 (𝟏.𝟎𝟏𝟑×𝟏𝟎 𝑷𝒂)

(b) Hold the volume and temperature constant

𝒎𝒂𝒔𝒔 (𝟐𝟖. 𝟓 + 𝟑𝟐) 𝒌𝒈
𝒏= = = 𝟐𝟏𝟔𝟕 𝒎𝒐𝒍
𝒎𝒐𝒍𝒂𝒓 𝒎𝒂𝒔𝒔 𝟐𝟖. 𝟎𝟏 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟑 𝒌𝒈/𝒎𝒐𝒍
𝑷𝑽 = 𝒏𝑹𝑻
𝒏𝑹𝑻 (𝟐𝟏𝟔𝟕 𝒎𝒐𝒍)(𝟖.𝟑𝟏𝟒 𝑱/𝒎𝒐𝒍)(𝟐𝟕𝟑 𝑲)
𝑷= = 𝟑 = 𝟐. 𝟏𝟔 × 𝟏𝟎𝟓 𝑷𝒂
𝑽 (𝟐𝟐.𝟕𝟗 𝒎 )
 Example Solution:

What is the pressure inside a 38 Litre container Given 𝑽 = 𝟑𝟖. 𝟎 𝑳,𝒎 = 𝟏𝟎𝟓. 𝟎 𝒌𝒈, 𝑻 = 𝟐𝟏, 𝟔℃; 𝑷 =?
holding 105.0 kg of argon gas at 21.6°C ? 𝒎𝒂𝒔𝒔 𝟏𝟎𝟓. 𝟎 𝒌𝒈
𝒏= =
𝒎𝒐𝒍𝒂𝒓 𝒎𝒂𝒔𝒔 𝟑𝟗. 𝟗𝟓 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟑 𝒌𝒈/𝒎𝒐𝒍
= 𝟐𝟔𝟐𝟖 𝒎𝒐𝒍
Hint: Assume the argon is an ideal gas. The
number of moles of argon is found from the 𝑷𝑽 = 𝒏𝑹𝑻
atomic weight (39.95 kg/mol), and then the ideal 𝒏𝑹𝑻
𝑷=
gas law is used to find the pressure. 𝑽
(𝟐𝟔𝟐𝟖 𝒎𝒐𝒍)(𝟖. 𝟑𝟏𝟒 𝑱/𝒎𝒐𝒍)(𝟐𝟕𝟑. 𝟏𝟓 𝑲 + 𝟐𝟏. 𝟔 𝑲)
=
(𝟑𝟖. 𝟎 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟑 𝒎𝟑 )
= 𝟏. 𝟔𝟗 × 𝟏𝟎𝟖 𝑷𝒂 ≈ 𝟏𝟔𝟕𝟎 𝑨𝒕𝒎

Kinetic Theory of Gases Kinetic Theory of Gases

Assumptions of the Kinetic Theory of Gases: With these assumptions, it can be shown that:
▪ Gas consists of a very large number of 𝟏 𝟐
ഥ
molecules 𝑷𝑽 = 𝑵𝒎𝒗𝟐 = 𝑵 𝑲
𝟑 𝟑
▪ Molecules move randomly, and with a variety of Where
speeds 𝑵 = Number of molecules
▪ Each molecule occupies a negligible volume in 𝒎 = mass of one mole
the container
𝒗𝟐 = mean square velocity of molecules
▪ Molecules on average are far apart from each ഥ = mean kinetic energy of molecules
other, so they do not interact with each other 𝑲
EXCEPT when they collide
▪ All collisions, with other molecules or with the
𝟐
Comparing with 𝑷𝑽 = 𝑵𝒌𝑻 = 𝑵 𝑲 ഥ = 𝟑 𝒌𝑻
ഥ , gives 𝑲
walls of the container, are perfectly elastic
𝟑 𝟐

▪ Container walls are perfectly rigid

 Kinetic Theory of Gases Kinetic Theory of Gases
–We have shown that Root mean square velocity: 𝒗𝒓𝒎𝒔 = 𝒗𝟐
𝟑
ഥ = 𝒌𝑻
𝑲
𝟐
–It is the typical speed of gas molecules.
–Therefore, temperature measures the average
kinetic energy of the gas molecules. –Calculate 𝒗𝒓𝒎𝒔 using the fact that
-Also approximately true for liquids and gases.
𝟏 𝟑
ഥ = 𝒌𝑻
𝒎𝒗𝟐 = 𝑲
-This equation tells us that the average 𝟐 𝟐
translational kinetic energy of molecules in random
motion in an ideal gas is directly proportional to 𝟑𝒌𝑻
the absolute temperature of the gas. 𝒗𝒓𝒎𝒔 = 𝒗𝟐 =
𝒎

MCQ 14 MCQ 14
Calculate the rms speed of helium atoms near the Calculate the rms speed of helium atoms near the
surface of the Sun at a temperature of about 6000 K. surface of the Sun at a temperature of about 6000 K.
Given that mass of Helium = 4.00 amu. Given that mass of Helium = 4.00 amu.
1amu = 𝟏. 𝟔𝟔 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟐𝟕 𝒌𝒈; 𝒌 = 𝟏. 𝟑𝟖 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟐𝟑 𝑱/𝑲 1amu = 𝟏. 𝟔𝟔 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟐𝟕 𝒌𝒈; 𝒌 = 𝟏. 𝟑𝟖 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟐𝟑 𝑱/𝑲
(A) 𝟕𝟖. 𝟖𝟎 𝒎/𝒔
(A) 𝟕𝟖. 𝟖𝟎 𝒎/𝒔 (B) 𝟐𝟒𝟖𝟒𝟎 𝒎/𝒔
(B) 𝟐𝟒𝟖𝟒𝟎 𝒎/𝒔 (C) 𝟔𝟏𝟏𝟔 𝒎/𝒔
(C) 𝟔𝟏𝟏𝟔 𝒎/𝒔 (D) 𝟔𝟐𝟏𝟎 𝒎/𝒔
(D) 𝟔𝟐𝟏𝟎 𝒎/𝒔
Solution:

𝟑𝒌𝑻 𝟑 𝟏. 𝟑𝟖 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟐𝟑 𝑱/𝑲 𝟔𝟎𝟎𝟎𝑲

𝒗𝒓𝒎𝒔 = =
𝒎 𝟒(𝟏. 𝟔𝟔 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟐𝟕 𝒌𝒈)
= 𝟔𝟏𝟏𝟔 𝒎/𝒔
 Example Example
Calculate the root mean square speed of Oxygen The rms speed of molecules in a gas at 20.0°C is
molecules at T = 20oC. to be increased by 4.0%. To what temperature
must it be raised?
𝒎 = 𝟑𝟐 𝒖 = 𝟑𝟐 × 𝟏. 𝟔𝟔𝟎 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟐𝟔 Solution:
= 𝟓. 𝟑 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟐𝟕 𝒌𝒈 𝑻𝟏 = 𝟐𝟎𝒐𝑪 = (𝟐𝟎 + 𝟐𝟕𝟑. 𝟏𝟓) 𝑲 = 𝟐𝟗𝟑. 𝟏𝟓 𝑲
𝑻 = 𝟐𝟎𝒐𝑪 = (𝟐𝟎 + 𝟐𝟕𝟑. 𝟏𝟓) 𝑲 = 𝟐𝟗𝟑. 𝟏𝟓 𝑲 𝟑𝒌𝑻
𝟏 𝟑 𝒗𝒓𝒎𝒔 =
𝒎𝒗𝟐 = 𝑲ഥ = 𝒌𝑻 𝒎
𝟐 𝟐
𝟑𝒌𝑻 (𝒗𝒓𝒎𝒔 )𝟐 𝟑𝒌𝑻𝟐 /𝒎 𝑻𝟐
𝒗𝒓𝒎𝒔 = = 𝟏. 𝟎𝟒 = =
𝒎 (𝒗𝒓𝒎𝒔 )𝟏 𝟑𝒌𝑻𝟏 /𝒎 𝑻𝟏

𝟑×(𝟏.𝟑𝟖×𝟏𝟎−𝟐𝟑 J/k ) × 𝟐𝟗𝟑.𝟏𝟓 𝑲 𝑻𝟐 = 𝑻𝟏 (𝟏. 𝟎𝟒)𝟐 = 𝟐𝟗𝟑. 𝟏𝟓 𝑲(𝟏. 𝟎𝟒)𝟐 = 𝟑𝟏𝟕. 𝟎𝟕 𝑲

𝒗𝒓𝒎𝒔 = −𝟐𝟔
≈ 𝟒𝟖𝟎 𝒎𝒔−𝟏 𝑻𝟐 = 𝟒𝟑. 𝟗℃
𝟓. 𝟑 × 𝟏𝟎 𝒌𝒈