Kinetic Theory

Consider a rectangular block of wood moving with a velocity vo in a gas at temperature T and mass density ρ. Assume the velocity is along the x-axis and the area of cross-section of the block perpendicular to vo is A. Show that the drag force on the block is

, where m is the mass of the gas molecule. Answer: Let ρm represent the number of molecules per unit volume Then the expression for the change in momentum by a molecule on front side is = 2m (v +...

read more

Ten small planners are flying at a speed of 150 km/h in total darkness in an air space that is 20 × 20 × 1.5 km3 in volume. You are in one of the planes, flying at random within this space with no way of knowing where the other planes are. On the average about how long a time will elapse between near collision with your plane. Assume for this rough computation that a safety region around the plane can be approximated by a sphere of radius 10 m.

Answer: We know that, Time = distance/speed Number of particles per unit volume v = N/volume n = 0.0167 km-3 d = 10 × 10-3 km v = 150 km/hr Therefore, we get: time = 225 hrs

read more

Answer: According to the question, the final KE of the gas is 0 The change in KE is as follows: ∆K= 1/2 (nm)v2 ∆T is the change in the temperature ∆U = nCv∆T ∆K = ∆U Making use of the expression, we...

read more

We have 0.5 g of hydrogen gas in a cubic chamber of size 3 cm kept at NTP. The gas in the chamber is compressed keeping the temperature constant till a final pressure of 100 atm. Is one justified in assuming the ideal gas law, in the final state?

Answer: We know that volume of 1 molecule = 4/3 πr3 = 4.20 × 10-30 m3 And the number of moles in 0.5 g H2 gas = 0.25 mole Volume of H2 molecule in 0.25 mole = 1.04×6.023× 10+23-30 = 6.264 ×...

read more

The container shown in the figure has two chambers, separated by a partition, of volumes V1 = 2.0 litre and V2 = 3.0 litre. The chambers contain μ1 = 4.0 and μ2 = 5.0 moles of a gas at pressure p1 = 1.00 atm and p2 = 2.00 atm. Calculate the pressure after the partition is removed and the mixture attains equilibrium.

V1 V2 μ1 μ2 p1 p2 Answer: We know that for an ideal gas, PV = μRT The two equations that we can write are: P1V1 = μ1R1T1 P2V2 = μ2R2T2 P1 = 1 atm, P2 = 2 atm and V1 = 2L, V2 = 3L Also, T1 = T = T2...

read more

A cubic vessel (with faces horizontal + vertical) contains an ideal gas at NTP. The vessel is being carried by a rocket which is moving at a speed of 500 m/s in the vertical direction. The pressure of the gas inside the vessel as observed by us on the ground

a) remains the same because 500 m/s is very much smaller than vrms of the gas b) remains the same because the motion of the vessel as a whole does not affect the relative motion of the gas molecules...

read more