Question:
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
(d) 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 either sign and its average over all the molecules is zero
Solution:
The correct answer is (c) only the translational part of the energy because during collisions with the wall pressure relates to change in linear momentum