
- Kinetic Theory Questions and Answers
Kinetic Theory Questions and Answers
13.1 Explain why
(a) There is no atmosphere on moon.
(b) There is fall in temperature with altitude. 13.28 Consider an ideal gas with following distribution of speeds
(i) Calculate Vrms and hence T. 26 ( 3.0 10 kg) m − = ×
(ii) If all the molecules with speed 1000 m/s escape from the system, calculate new Vrms and hence T.
Explanation-a) the moon has small gravitational force and hence, the escape velocity is small .
As the moon in the proximity of the earth as seen from the sun , the moonhas the same amount of heat per unit area as that of the earth.
The air molecules have large range of speeds . even though the rms speed of the air molcules is smaller than the escape velocity on the moon, a significant number of molecules have speed grater than the escape velocity.
b) as the molecules move higher their potential energy increases and hence kinetic energy decreases and hence temperature reduces. At greater height more volume is available and gas expands and hence some cooling takes place.
13.2 consider an ideal gas with the following distribution of speeds
a) calculate Vrms and hence T(m=3 )
b) if all the molecules with speed 1000m/s escape from the system , calculate new Vrms and hence T.
13.3 Ten small planes 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 10m.
Explanation- time require to avoid the collision T= l/v where l = mean free path =1/
Where n = N/V
n=number of aeroplanes/volume
= -3
T=
T= =
13.4 A box of 1.00m3 is filled with nitrogen at 1.50 atm at 300K. The box has a hole of an area 0.010 mm2. How much time is required for the pressure to reduce by 0.10 atm, if the pressure outside is 1 atm.
Explanation- given volume V = 1m3
area = 0.01mm2
= 8.01 m2= m2
Temperature both inside and outside are equal
So initial pressure inside the box = 1.50atm
Final pressure inside the box= 0.1atm
Assuming Vx= speed of nitrogen molecule in x direction
ni = number of molecules per unit volume in a time interval of
Let area of the wall , number of particles colliding in time
= i(vx )A , here we use ½ because particle moves both in positive and negative direction.
Vx2+ Vy2+ Vz2= Vrms2
Vx2= Vrms2/3 if all three velocities are equal.
½ mvrms2= 3/2KBT/m
Commonly asked questions
Explain why
(a) There is no atmosphere on moon.
(b) There is fall in temperature with altitude. 13.28 Consider an ideal gas with following distribution of speeds
(i) Calculate Vrms and hence T. 26 ( 3.0 10 kg) m − = ×
(ii) If all the molecules with speed 1000 m/s escape from the system, calculate new Vrms and hence T.
This is a long answer type question as classified in NCERT Exemplar
(a) The moon has small gravitational force and hence, the escape velocity is small .
As the moon in the proximity of the earth as seen from the sun, the moonhas the same amount of heat per unit area as that of the earth.
The air molecules have large range of speeds . even though the rms speed of the air molcules is smaller than the escape velocity on the moon, a significant number of molecules have speed grater than the escape velocity.

(b) As the molecules move higher their potential energy increases and hence kinetic energy decreases and hence temperature reduces. At greater height more volume is available and gas expands and hence some cooling takes place.
Consider an ideal gas with the following distribution of speeds

(a) Calculate Vrms and hence T(m=3 )
(b) If all the molecules with speed 1000m/s escape from the system , calculate new Vrms and hence T.
This is a long answer type question as classified in NCERT Exemplar
Ten small planes 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 10m.
This is a long answer type question as classified in NCERT Exemplar
Time require to avoid the collision T= l/v where l = mean free path =1/
Where n = N/V
n=number of aeroplanes/volume
= -3
T=
T= =
A box of 1.00m3 is filled with nitrogen at 1.50 atm at 300K. The box has a hole of an area 0.010 mm2. How much time is required for the pressure to reduce by 0.10 atm, if the pressure outside is 1 atm.
This is a long answer type question as classified in NCERT Exemplar
Given volume V = 1m3
area = 0.01mm2

= 8.01 m2= m2
Temperature both inside and outside are equal
So initial pressure inside the box = 1.50atm
Final pressure inside the box= 0.1atm
Assuming Vx= speed of nitrogen molecule in x direction
ni = number of molecules per unit volume in a time interval of
Let area of the wall, number of particles colliding in time
= i (vx )A , here we use ½ because particle moves both in positive and negative direction.
Vx2+ Vy2+ Vz2= Vrms2
Vx2= Vrms2/3 if all three velocities are equal.
½ mvrms2= 3/2KBT/m


Consider a rectangular block of wood moving with a velocity v0 in a gas at temperature T and mass density ρ. Assume the velocity is along x-axis and the area of cross-section of the block perpendicular to v0 is A. Show that the drag force on the block is 4ρ 0 kT Av m , where m is the mass of the gas molecule
This is a long answer type question as classified in NCERT Exemplar
Consider the diagram

let n =number of molecules per unit volume
Vrms= rms speed of gas molecule
When block is moving with speed vo, relative speed of molecules w.r.t front face =v+vo
Coming head on, momentum transferred to block per collision =2m (v+vo)
Number of collisions in time = (v+vo)n A where A is the area of cross section.
So momentum transferred in time =m (v+vo)2nA this is from front surface
Similarly momentum transferred in time = m (v-vo)2nA ) this is from back surface
Drag force = mnA (v+vo)2- (v-vo)2)
= mnA (4wo)=4mnAvvo
= 4 vvo
So =mn/V=M/V
If v = velocity along x axis
Then we can write KE= ½ mv2=1/2 KBT

Calculate the number of atoms in 39.4 g gold. Molar mass of gold is 197g mole-1.
This is a short answer type question as classified in NCERT Exemplar
molar mass = mass of avogadro’s number of atoms= 6.023 atoms.
197 g of gold contains =6.023
1g of gold contain= atoms
39.4 g of gold atoms = atoms
The volume of a given mass of a gas at 27°C, 1 atm is 100 cc. What will be its volume at 327°C?
This is a short answer type question as classified in NCERT Exemplar
V
V/T = constant
T1=273+27=300K
T2= 273+327= 600K
V1= 100cc
V2=V1 (600/300)
V2=2V1
V2= 2 (100)=200cc
The molecules of a given mass of a gas have root mean square speeds of 100ms-1 at 27 C° and 1.00 atmospheric pressure. What will be the root mean square speeds of the molecules of the gas at 127°C and 2.0 atmospheric pressure?
This is a short answer type question as classified in NCERT Exemplar
Vrms=
Vrms=
T1=27oC= 27+273=300K
T2=127oC= 127+273= 400K
Vrms2=
Two molecules of a gas have speeds of 9 x 106 m s-1 and 1 x 106 ms−1 , respectively. What is the root mean square speed of these molecules.
This is a short answer type question as classified in NCERT Exemplar
A gas mixture consists of 2.0 moles of oxygen and 4.0 moles of neon at temperature T. Neglecting all vibrational modes, calculate the total internal energy of the system. (Oxygen has two rotational modes.)
This is a short answer type question as classified in NCERT Exemplar
Oxygen gas having 5 degrees of freedom
Energy per mole of the gas =5/2RT
For 2 moles of the gas total internal energy =2 5/2RT=5RT
Neon is a monoatomic gas having 3 degrees of freedom
Energy per mole =3/2RT
We have 4 moles of Ne
Energy = 4 3/2RT=6RT
Total energy =5RT+6RT=11RT
Calculate the ratio of the mean free paths of the molecules of two gases having molecular diameters 1Å and 2 Å . The gases may be considered under identical conditions of temperature, pressure and volume.
This is a short answer type question as classified in NCERT Exemplar
Mean free path l=1/
So n= number of molecules /volume
d = diameter of the molecule
l
d1=1Ao, d2=2Ao
l
l1:l2=4:1
The container shown in Fig. has two chambers, separated by a partition, of volumes V1 = 2.0 litre and V2= 3.0 litre. The chambers contain µ1 = 4.0and µ2 =5.2 moles of a gas at pressures p1= 1.00 atm and p2 = 2.00 atm. Calculate the pressure after the partition is removed and the mixture attains equilibrium.


This is a short answer type question as classified in NCERT Exemplar
V1=2L ,V2=3L
µ1 = 4.0and µ2 =5.2
p1= 1.00 atm and p2 = 2.00 atm
p1V1= µ1RT1
p2V2= µ2RT2
when the partition is removed the gases get mixed without any loss of energy . the mixture now attains a common equilibrium pressure and total volume of the system is sum of the volume of individual chambers V1 and V2
, V =V1+V2
From the kinetic theory of gases pV=2/3 E
For mole 1 ,P1V1= 2/3
For mole 2 , P2V2= 2/3
Total energy is ( )= 3/2 ( )
PV==2/3Etotal = 2/3
P( )=
P= =
P=8/5 =1.6atm
A gas mixture consists of molecules of types A, B and C with masses mA > mB > mC . Rank the three types of molecules in decreasing order of (a) average K.E., (b) rms speeds.
This is a short answer type question as classified in NCERT Exemplar
(a) The average KE will be the same

M= molar mass of the gas
m=mass of each molecular of the gas
R= gas constant
vrms
(b) k = Boltzmann constant
T= absolute temperature
mA>mB>mC
Vrms.A
We have 0.5 g of hydrogen gas in a cubic chamber of size 3cm 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? (Hydrogen molecules can be consider as spheres of radius 1 Ao ).
This is a short answer type question as classified in NCERT Exemplar
Radius = 1Ao
Volume of hydrogen molecules = 4/3 r3
= 4/3 (3.14) (10-10)3 m3
Number of moles of H2 = mass/molecular mass=0.5/2=0.25
Molecules of H2 present = number of moles of H2 present
= 0.25
So volume of molecules present = molecule number volume of each molecules
= 0.25
6 3
PiVi= PfVf
Vf = i= 3
Vf= 2.7 3
When air is pumped into a cycle tyre the volume and pressure of the air in the tyre both are increased. What about Boyle’s law in this case?
This is a short answer type question as classified in NCERT Exemplar
When air is pumped, more molecules are pumped and boyle's law is staed for situation where number of molecules remains constant . in this case as the number of air molecules keep increases, hence mass change. Boyle's law is only applicable in situations, where number of gas molecule of remains fixed.
A ballon has 5.0 g mole of helium at 7°C. Calculate
(a) the number of atoms of helium in the balloon
(b) the total internal energy of the system.
This is a short answer type question as classified in NCERT Exemplar
Number of helium = 5
T=7oC=7+273=280K
(a) hence number of atoms = number of moles Avogadro's number
= atoms
(b) now average kinetic energy per molecule = 3/2 KBT
= total internal energy
= number of atoms
=
Calculate the number of degrees of freedom of molecules of hydrogen in 1 cc of hydrogen gas at NTP.
This is a short answer type question as classified in NCERT Exemplar
Volume occupied by 1 mole = 1mole of the gas at NTP= 22400mL=22400cc
So number of molecules in 1cc of hydrogen=
H2 is a diatomic gas, having a total of 5 degrees of freedom
So total degrees possesed by all the molecules
= 5
An insulated container containing monoatomic gas of molar mass m is moving with a velocity Vo . If the container is suddenly stopped, find the change in temperature.
This is a short answer type question as classified in NCERT Exemplar
According to kinetic interpretation of temperature, absolute temperature of a given sample of a gas is proportional to total translational kinetic energy of its molecule.
Hence any change in absolute temperature of a gas will contribute to corresponding change in translational KE and vice versa.
N= number of moles
m=molar mass of the gas
when the container stops its total kinetic energy transferred to the gas molecules in the form of translational KE, thereby increasing the absolute temperature.
KE of molecules due to velocity KE=
Increase in translational KE =n T
According to kinetic theory of gases
= n T
T=
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 500m s-1 in vertical direction. The pressure of the gas inside the vessel as observed by us on the ground
(a) Remains the same because 500ms-1 is very much smaller than Vrms of the gas.
(b) Remains the same because motion of the vessel as a whole does not affect the relative motion of the gas molecules and the walls.
(c) Will increase by a factor equal to ( where Vrms was the original mean square velocity of the gas.
(d) Will be different on the top wall and bottom wall of the vessel.
This is a multiple choice answer as classified in NCERT Exemplar
(b) As the motion of the vessel as a whole does not affect the relative motion of the gas molecules with respect to the walls of the vessel, hence pressure of the gas inside the vessel, as conserved by us, on the ground remains the same.
1 mole of an ideal gas is contained in a cubical volume V, ABCDEFGH at 300 K (Fig). One face of the cube (EFGH) is made up of a material which totally absorbs any gas molecule incident on it. At any given time,

(a) The pressure on EFGH would be zero
(b) The pressure on all the faces will the equal
(c) The pressure of EFGH would be double the pressure on ABCD
(d) The pressure on EFGH would be half that on ABCD
This is a multiple choice answer as classified in NCERT Exemplar
(d) In an ideal gas when a molecules collides elastically with a wall, the momentum transferred to each molecule will be twice the magnitude of its normal momentum. For the face EFGH, it transfer only half of that.
Boyle’s law is applicable for an
(a) Adiabatic process.
(b) Isothermal process.
(c) Isobaric process.
(d) Isochoric process.
This is a multiple choice answer as classified in NCERT Exemplar
(b) Boyle's law is applicable when temperature is constant
PV=nRT=constant
PV= constant
So pressure is inversely proportional to volume.
So process is called isothermal process.
A cylinder containing an ideal gas is in vertical position and has a piston of mass M that is able to move up or down without friction (Fig). If the temperature is increased

(a) Both p and V of the gas will change.
(b) Only p will increase according to Charle’s law.
(c) V will change but not p.
(d) p will change but not V.
This is a multiple choice answer as classified in NCERT Exemplar
(c) The pressure inside the gas will be

P= pa+Mg/A
A= area of piston
Pa= atmospheric pressure
Mg = weight of piston
When temperature is increases
pV=nRT so volume increases at constant pressure.
Volume versus temperature graphs for a given mass of an ideal gas are shown in Fig. at two different values of constant pressure. What can be inferred about relation between p1 & p2 ?

(a) p1 > p2
(b) p1 = p2
(c) p1 < p2
(d) Data is insufficient.
This is a multiple choice answer as classified in NCERT Exemplar
(a) Pressure is inversely proportional to slope
So
So p1 > p2
1 mole of H2 gas is contained in a box of volume V = 1.00 m3 at T = 300K. The gas is heated to a temperature of T = 3000K and the gas gets converted to a gas of hydrogen atoms. The final pressure would be (considering all gases to be ideal)
(a) Same as the pressure initially
(b) 2 times the pressure initially
(c) 10 times the pressure initially
(d) 20 times the pressure initially
This is a multiple choice answer as classified in NCERT Exemplar
(d) When number of molecules breaks then number of moles would become double.

P where n is the number of moles and T is temperature of ideal gas
As gases breaks number of moles becomes twcice of initial so n2 =2n1
= 20
p2=20p1
so 20 times
A vessel of volume V contains a mixture of 1 mole of Hydrogen and 1 mole of Oxygen (both considered as ideal). Let f1(v)dv, denote the fraction of molecules with speed between v and (v + dv) with f2(v)dv, similarly for oxygen. Then
(a) f1(v) + f2(v) = f(v) obeys the Maxwell’s distribution law
(b) f1(v), f2(v)will obey the Maxwell’s distribution law separately
(c) Neither f1(v), nor f2(v) will obey the Maxwell’s distribution law
(d) f2(v) and f1 (v) will be the same
This is a multiple choice answer as classified in NCERT Exemplar
(b) For a function f (v), the number of molecules n=f (v) which are having speeds between v and v+dv
So f1 (v) and f2 (v) will obey’s maxwell distribution law
An inflated rubber balloon contains one mole of an ideal gas, has a pressure p, volume V and temperature T. If the temperature rises to 1.1 T, and the volume is increased to 1.05 V, the final pressure will be
(a) 1.1 p
(b) p
(c) Less than p
(d) Between p and 1.1
This is a multiple choice answer as classified in NCERT Exemplar
(d) pV=nRT
So n= PV/RT
As number moles are fixed
P2=p1V1 (T2/V2T1)
=
= P
ABCDEFGH is a hollow cube made of an insulator (Fig). Face ABCD has positive charge on it. Inside the cube, we have ionized hydrogen. The usual kinetic theory expression for pressure

(a) Will be valid.
(b) Will not be valid since the ions would experience forces other than due to collisions with the walls.
(c) Will not be valid since collisions with walls would not be elastic.
(d) Will not be valid because isotropy is lost.
This is a multiple choice answer as classified in NCERT Exemplar
(b), (d) due to the presence of external positive charge on face ABCD. The usual expression for pressure on the basis of kinetic energy will not be valid as ions would also experience electrostatic force. So presence of positive charge the isotropy is also lost.
Diatomic molecules like hydrogen have energies due to both translational as well as rotational motion. From the equation in kinetic theory pV =2/3 E , E is
(a) The total energy per unit volume
(b) Only the translational part of energy because rotational energy is very small compared to the translational energy
(c) Only the translational part of the energy because during collisions with the wall pressure relates to change in linear momentum
(d) The translational part of the energy because rotational energies of molecules can be of either sign and its average over all the molecules is zero
This is a multiple choice answer as classified in NCERT Exemplar
(c) According to kinetic theory, we know walls only exert perpendicular forces on molecule. They do not exert parallel force . so there is only change in translational motion.
So pV=2/3E
Where E is representing only translational part of energy.
In a diatomic molecule, the rotational energy at a given temperature
(a) Obeys Maxwell’s distribution
(b) Have the same value for all molecules
(c) Equals the translational kinetic energy for each molecule
(d) Is (2/3)rd the translational kinetic energy for each molecule
This is a multiple choice answer as classified in NCERT Exemplar
(a), (d) The total energy associated with the molecule is
E=
The number of independent terms in the above expressions is 5. So we can predict velocities of molecule by maxwell’s distribution, hence the above expression obeys maxwell ‘s distribution .

So 2 rotational and 3 translational energies are associated with each molecule
So rotational energy at a given temperature is 2/3 of the translational KE of each molecule.
Which of the following diagrams (Fig.) depicts ideal gas behaviour?

This is a multiple choice answer as classified in NCERT Exemplar
(a), (c) pV=nRT
(a) when pressure p =constant
volume is directly proportional to temperature
(b) when T= constant
from PV =constant
so the graph is rectangular hyperbola
(c) when V =constant
from pressure is directly proportional to temperature.
So the graph is straight the passes through the origin.
PV
PV/T=constant
So the graph hence through origin. So d is correct.
When an ideal gas is compressed adiabatically, its temperature rises: the molecules on the average have more kinetic energy than before. The kinetic energy increases
(a) Because of collisions with moving parts of the wall only
(b) Because of collisions with the entire wall
(c) Because the molecules gets accelerated in their motion inside the volume
(d) Because of redistribution of energy amongst the molecules
This is a multiple choice answer as classified in NCERT Exemplar
When the gas is compressed adiabatically, the total work done on the gas increases its internal energy which in turn increases the KE of the gas molecule and hence, the collisions between molecules also increases.
Physics NCERT Exemplar Solutions Class 11th Chapter Thirteen Exam