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COMEDK · Physics · 14. Kinetic Theory of Gases

The mean energy per molecule for a diatomic gas is:

  1. A \(\left(\dfrac{3}{2 N}\right) \mathrm{K}_{\mathrm{B}} \mathrm{T}\)
  2. B \(\left(\dfrac{3}{2}\right) \mathrm{K}_{\mathrm{B}} \mathrm{T}\)
  3. C \(\left(\dfrac{5}{2 N}\right) \mathrm{K}_{\mathrm{B}} \mathrm{T}\)
  4. D \(\left(\dfrac{5}{2}\right) \mathrm{K}_{\mathrm{B}} \mathrm{T}\)
Verified Solution

Answer & Solution

Correct Answer

(D) \(\left(\dfrac{5}{2}\right) \mathrm{K}_{\mathrm{B}} \mathrm{T}\)

Step-by-step Solution

Detailed explanation

A diatomic gas molecule at moderate temperatures possesses 5 degrees of freedom: 3 translational and 2 rotational degrees of freedom. According to the law of equipartition of energy, each degree of freedom contributes \(\dfrac{1}{2} K_{B} T\) to the average energy of the…