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Chapter 3: Q12DQ (page 609)

Comment on the following statement:When two gases are mixed, if they are to be in thermal equilibrium, they must have the same average molecular speed.Is the statement correct? Why or why not?

Short Answer

Expert verified

This statement is incorrect. Two gases mixed in the thermal equilibrium will have equal kinetic energy but no speed.

Step by step solution

01

About Thermal Equilibrium

Two systems in contact that are at the same temperature and are experiencing no net heat flow between them, are said to be in thermal equilibrium.

02

Determine the average molecular speed when two gases are mixed in thermal equilibrium

This statement is incorrect. Two gases in the thermal equilibrium will have equal kinetic energy but not speed, heaviergaswill move slower. In the air nitrogenmovesfaster than oxygen.

Therefore, two gases in the thermal equilibrium will have equal kinetic energy but no speed.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

The free expansion of an ideal gas is an adiabatic process and so no heat is transferred. No work is done, so the internal energy does not change. Thus,QT=0, yet the randomness of the system and thus its entropy have increased after the expansion. Why does Eq.(20.19)not apply to this situation?

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