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NCERT Solutions

Kinetic Theory

Haryana Board · Class 11 · Physics

NCERT Solutions for Kinetic Theory — Haryana Board Class 11 Physics.

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EXERCISES

12.1Estimate the fraction of molecular volume to the actual volume occupied by oxygen gas at STP. Take the diameter of an oxygen molecule to be 3 Å.Show solution
Given:
- Diameter of oxygen molecule, d=3d = 3 Å =3×1010= 3 \times 10^{-10} m
- At STP, 1 mole of any ideal gas occupies Vactual=22.4V_{\text{actual}} = 22.4 L =22.4×103= 22.4 \times 10^{-3}
- Number of molecules in 1 mole, NA=6.023×1023N_A = 6.023 \times 10^{23}

Step 1: Volume of one oxygen molecule (treated as a sphere)
Vmolecule=43π(d2)3=43π(3×10102)3V_{\text{molecule}} = \frac{4}{3}\pi\left(\frac{d}{2}\right)^3 = \frac{4}{3}\pi\left(\frac{3\times10^{-10}}{2}\right)^3
=43π(1.5×1010)3=43×3.14159×3.375×1030= \frac{4}{3}\pi (1.5\times10^{-10})^3 = \frac{4}{3}\times 3.14159 \times 3.375\times10^{-30}
=1.414×1029 m3= 1.414 \times 10^{-29} \text{ m}^3

Step 2: Total molecular volume for 1 mole
Vmol=NA×Vmolecule=6.023×1023×1.414×1029V_{\text{mol}} = N_A \times V_{\text{molecule}} = 6.023\times10^{23} \times 1.414\times10^{-29}
=8.52×106 m3= 8.52 \times 10^{-6} \text{ m}^3

Step 3: Fraction of molecular volume to actual volume
Fraction=VmolVactual=8.52×10622.4×103\text{Fraction} = \frac{V_{\text{mol}}}{V_{\text{actual}}} = \frac{8.52\times10^{-6}}{22.4\times10^{-3}}
3.8×104\boxed{\approx 3.8 \times 10^{-4}}

Conclusion: The molecular volume is only about 3.8×1043.8 \times 10^{-4} times the actual volume occupied by the gas, confirming that molecules in a gas are very far apart compared to their own size.
12.2Molar volume is the volume occupied by 1 mol of any (ideal) gas at standard temperature and pressure (STP: 1 atmospheric pressure, 0°C). Show that it is 22.4 litres.Show solution
Given:
- Pressure at STP: P=1P = 1 atm =1.013×105= 1.013 \times 10^5 Pa
- Temperature at STP: T=0°C=273T = 0°C = 273 K
- Number of moles: μ=1\mu = 1
- Universal gas constant: R=8.314R = 8.314 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹

Using the ideal gas equation:
PV=μRTPV = \mu RT

Solving for V:
V=μRTP=1×8.314×2731.013×105V = \frac{\mu RT}{P} = \frac{1 \times 8.314 \times 273}{1.013 \times 10^5}

V=2269.71.013×105V = \frac{2269.7}{1.013 \times 10^5}

V=2.240×102 m3V = 2.240 \times 10^{-2} \text{ m}^3

V=22.4 litres\boxed{V = 22.4 \text{ litres}}

(Since 1 m3=1031 \text{ m}^3 = 10^3 litres, 2.240×1022.240 \times 10^{-2}=22.4= 22.4 litres.)

This confirms that 1 mole of any ideal gas at STP occupies 22.4 litres.
12.3Figure 12.8 shows plot of PV/T versus P for 1.00 × 10⁻³ kg of oxygen gas at two different temperatures.
(a) What does the dotted plot signify?
(b) Which is true: T₁ > T₂ or T₁ < T₂?
(c) What is the value of PV/T where the curves meet on the y-axis?
(d) If we obtained similar plots for 1.00 × 10⁻³ kg of hydrogen, would we get the same value of PV/T at the point where the curves meet on the y-axis? If not, what mass of hydrogen yields the same value of PV/T (for low pressure high temperature region of the plot)? (Molecular mass of H₂ = 2.02 u, of O₂ = 32.0 u, R = 8.31 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹.)
Show solution
(a) Significance of the dotted plot:

For an ideal gas, PV=μRTPV = \mu RT, so PVT=μR=\frac{PV}{T} = \mu R = constant, independent of pressure PP. The dotted plot (a horizontal straight line) represents the behaviour of an ideal gas. It signifies that PV/TPV/T does not vary with pressure — this is the ideal gas limit.

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(b) Which temperature is higher, T₁ or T₂?

Real gases deviate from ideal behaviour, and the deviation is less at higher temperatures (gas behaves more ideally at higher TT). The curve that is closer to the dotted (ideal) line corresponds to the higher temperature. From the typical shape of such plots, the curve at T1T_1 is closer to the ideal (dotted) line than the curve at T2T_2.

\boxed{T_1 &gt; T_2}

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(c) Value of PV/T at the y-axis (P → 0):

At very low pressures, real gases behave ideally. So:
PVT=μR\frac{PV}{T} = \mu R

Mass of oxygen =1.00×103= 1.00 \times 10^{-3} kg =1= 1 g

Molecular mass of O₂ =32.0= 32.0 g/mol

Number of moles:
μ=132=3.125×102 mol\mu = \frac{1}{32} = 3.125 \times 10^{-2} \text{ mol}

Therefore:
PVT=μR=3.125×102×8.31\frac{PV}{T} = \mu R = 3.125 \times 10^{-2} \times 8.31
PVT=0.26 J K1\boxed{\frac{PV}{T} = 0.26 \text{ J K}^{-1}}

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(d) For 1.00 × 10⁻³ kg of hydrogen:

Molecular mass of H₂ =2.02= 2.02 g/mol

Number of moles of H₂:
μH2=12.02=0.495 mol\mu_{H_2} = \frac{1}{2.02} = 0.495 \text{ mol}

PVT=μH2R=0.495×8.31=4.11 J K1\frac{PV}{T} = \mu_{H_2} R = 0.495 \times 8.31 = 4.11 \text{ J K}^{-1}

This is not the same as 0.26 J K⁻¹ obtained for oxygen.

Mass of hydrogen that gives the same PV/T = 0.26 J K⁻¹:

Required μ=0.268.31=3.125×102\mu = \frac{0.26}{8.31} = 3.125 \times 10^{-2} mol

Mass of H₂:
m=μ×MH2=3.125×102×2.02m = \mu \times M_{H_2} = 3.125 \times 10^{-2} \times 2.02
m6.3×102 g=6.3×105 kg\boxed{m \approx 6.3 \times 10^{-2} \text{ g} = 6.3 \times 10^{-5} \text{ kg}}

So, 6.3×1056.3 \times 10^{-5} kg of hydrogen would yield the same value of PV/TPV/T at the y-axis intercept.
12.4An oxygen cylinder of volume 30 litre has an initial gauge pressure of 15 atm and a temperature of 27°C. After some oxygen is withdrawn from the cylinder, the gauge pressure drops to 11 atm and its temperature drops to 17°C. Estimate the mass of oxygen taken out of the cylinder (R = 8.31 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹, molecular mass of O₂ = 32 u).Show solution
Given:
- Volume of cylinder: V=30V = 30 L =30×103= 30 \times 10^{-3} m³ (constant)
- Initial gauge pressure: P1=15P_1 = 15 atm; absolute pressure =15+1=16= 15 + 1 = 16 atm =16×1.013×105=1.621×106= 16 \times 1.013 \times 10^5 = 1.621 \times 10^6 Pa
- Initial temperature: T1=27°C=300T_1 = 27°C = 300 K
- Final gauge pressure: P2=11P_2 = 11 atm; absolute pressure =11+1=12= 11 + 1 = 12 atm =12×1.013×105=1.216×106= 12 \times 1.013 \times 10^5 = 1.216 \times 10^6 Pa
- Final temperature: T2=17°C=290T_2 = 17°C = 290 K
- R=8.31R = 8.31 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹, M=32M = 32 g/mol

Step 1: Find initial number of moles μ1\mu_1

Using P1V=μ1RT1P_1 V = \mu_1 R T_1:
μ1=P1VRT1=1.621×106×30×1038.31×300\mu_1 = \frac{P_1 V}{R T_1} = \frac{1.621\times10^6 \times 30\times10^{-3}}{8.31 \times 300}
=486302493=19.51 mol= \frac{48630}{2493} = 19.51 \text{ mol}

Step 2: Find final number of moles μ2\mu_2

Using P2V=μ2RT2P_2 V = \mu_2 R T_2:
μ2=P2VRT2=1.216×106×30×1038.31×290\mu_2 = \frac{P_2 V}{R T_2} = \frac{1.216\times10^6 \times 30\times10^{-3}}{8.31 \times 290}
=364802409.9=15.14 mol= \frac{36480}{2409.9} = 15.14 \text{ mol}

Step 3: Moles of oxygen withdrawn
Δμ=μ1μ2=19.5115.14=4.37 mol\Delta\mu = \mu_1 - \mu_2 = 19.51 - 15.14 = 4.37 \text{ mol}

Step 4: Mass of oxygen withdrawn
m=Δμ×M=4.37×32=139.8 gm = \Delta\mu \times M = 4.37 \times 32 = 139.8 \text{ g}

m141 g0.141 kg\boxed{m \approx 141 \text{ g} \approx 0.141 \text{ kg}}
12.5An air bubble of volume 1.0 cm³ rises from the bottom of a lake 40 m deep at a temperature of 12°C. To what volume does it grow when it reaches the surface, which is at a temperature of 35°C?Show solution
Given:
- Initial volume: V1=1.0V_1 = 1.0 cm³ =1.0×106= 1.0 \times 10^{-6}
- Depth of lake: h=40h = 40 m
- Temperature at bottom: T1=12°C=285T_1 = 12°C = 285 K
- Temperature at surface: T2=35°C=308T_2 = 35°C = 308 K
- Atmospheric pressure: P0=1.013×105P_0 = 1.013 \times 10^5 Pa
- Density of water: ρ=1000\rho = 1000 kg/m³, g=9.8g = 9.8 m/s²

Step 1: Pressure at the bottom of the lake
P1=P0+ρgh=1.013×105+1000×9.8×40P_1 = P_0 + \rho g h = 1.013\times10^5 + 1000 \times 9.8 \times 40
=1.013×105+3.92×105=4.933×105 Pa= 1.013\times10^5 + 3.92\times10^5 = 4.933\times10^5 \text{ Pa}

Step 2: Pressure at the surface
P2=P0=1.013×105 PaP_2 = P_0 = 1.013\times10^5 \text{ Pa}

Step 3: Apply the combined gas law
P1V1T1=P2V2T2\frac{P_1 V_1}{T_1} = \frac{P_2 V_2}{T_2}

V2=V1×P1P2×T2T1V_2 = V_1 \times \frac{P_1}{P_2} \times \frac{T_2}{T_1}

V2=1.0×106×4.933×1051.013×105×308285V_2 = 1.0\times10^{-6} \times \frac{4.933\times10^5}{1.013\times10^5} \times \frac{308}{285}

V2=1.0×106×4.870×1.0807V_2 = 1.0\times10^{-6} \times 4.870 \times 1.0807

V2=1.0×106×5.263V_2 = 1.0\times10^{-6} \times 5.263

V25.3×106 m3=5.3 cm3\boxed{V_2 \approx 5.3 \times 10^{-6} \text{ m}^3 = 5.3 \text{ cm}^3}

The bubble grows to approximately 5.3 cm³ when it reaches the surface.
12.6Estimate the total number of air molecules (inclusive of oxygen, nitrogen, water vapour and other constituents) in a room of capacity 25.0 m³ at a temperature of 27°C and 1 atm pressure.Show solution
Given:
- Volume of room: V=25.0V = 25.0
- Temperature: T=27°C=300T = 27°C = 300 K
- Pressure: P=1P = 1 atm =1.013×105= 1.013 \times 10^5 Pa
- kB=1.38×1023k_B = 1.38 \times 10^{-23} J K⁻¹

Using the ideal gas equation in terms of number of molecules:
PV=NkBTPV = N k_B T

Solving for N:
N=PVkBT=1.013×105×25.01.38×1023×300N = \frac{PV}{k_B T} = \frac{1.013\times10^5 \times 25.0}{1.38\times10^{-23} \times 300}

N=2.5325×1064.14×1021N = \frac{2.5325\times10^6}{4.14\times10^{-21}}

N6.1×1026 molecules\boxed{N \approx 6.1 \times 10^{26} \text{ molecules}}

The room contains approximately 6.1×10266.1 \times 10^{26} air molecules.
12.7Estimate the average thermal energy of a helium atom at (i) room temperature (27°C), (ii) the temperature on the surface of the Sun (6000 K), (iii) the temperature of 10 million kelvin (the typical core temperature in the case of a star).Show solution
Helium is a monatomic gas with 3 translational degrees of freedom. By the law of equipartition of energy, the average thermal (kinetic) energy per atom is:
E=32kBTE = \frac{3}{2} k_B T

where kB=1.38×1023k_B = 1.38 \times 10^{-23} J K⁻¹.

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(i) Room temperature: T=27°C=300T = 27°C = 300 K
E=32×1.38×1023×300E = \frac{3}{2} \times 1.38\times10^{-23} \times 300
=32×4.14×1021= \frac{3}{2} \times 4.14\times10^{-21}
E6.21×1021 J\boxed{E \approx 6.21 \times 10^{-21} \text{ J}}

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(ii) Surface of the Sun: T=6000T = 6000 K
E=32×1.38×1023×6000E = \frac{3}{2} \times 1.38\times10^{-23} \times 6000
=32×8.28×1020= \frac{3}{2} \times 8.28\times10^{-20}
E1.24×1019 J\boxed{E \approx 1.24 \times 10^{-19} \text{ J}}

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(iii) Core of a star: T=107T = 10^7 K
E=32×1.38×1023×107E = \frac{3}{2} \times 1.38\times10^{-23} \times 10^7
=32×1.38×1016= \frac{3}{2} \times 1.38\times10^{-16}
E2.07×1016 J\boxed{E \approx 2.07 \times 10^{-16} \text{ J}}
12.8Three vessels of equal capacity have gases at the same temperature and pressure. The first vessel contains neon (monatomic), the second contains chlorine (diatomic), and the third contains uranium hexafluoride (polyatomic). Do the vessels contain equal number of respective molecules? Is the root mean square speed of molecules the same in the three cases? If not, in which case is v_rms the largest?Show solution
Part 1: Do the vessels contain equal number of molecules?

All three vessels have the same volume VV, same temperature TT, and same pressure PP.

From the ideal gas equation:
PV=NkBT    N=PVkBTPV = Nk_BT \implies N = \frac{PV}{k_BT}

Since PP, VV, and TT are identical for all three vessels, NN is the same for all three.

Yes, all three vessels contain equal number of molecules (Avogadro's law).

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Part 2: Is vrmsv_{\text{rms}} the same in all three cases?

The rms speed is given by:
vrms=3kBTmv_{\text{rms}} = \sqrt{\frac{3k_BT}{m}}

where mm is the mass of one molecule. Since the three gases have different molecular masses, their vrmsv_{\text{rms}} values will be different.

- Neon (Ne): M=20.2M = 20.2 u (monatomic)
- Chlorine (Cl₂): M=71M = 71 u (diatomic)
- Uranium hexafluoride (UF₆): M=238+6×19=352M = 238 + 6\times19 = 352 u (polyatomic)

Since vrms1mv_{\text{rms}} \propto \frac{1}{\sqrt{m}}, the lighter the molecule, the larger the rms speed.

Neon has the smallest molecular mass, so:
vrms is largest for Neon (Ne)\boxed{v_{\text{rms}} \text{ is largest for Neon (Ne)}}

Order: v_{\text{rms}}(\text{Ne}) &gt; v_{\text{rms}}(\text{Cl}_2) &gt; v_{\text{rms}}(\text{UF}_6)
12.9At what temperature is the root mean square speed of an atom in an argon gas cylinder equal to the rms speed of a helium gas atom at ~20°C? (atomic mass of Ar = 39.9 u, of He = 4.0 u).Show solution
Given:
- Temperature of helium: THe=20°C=293T_{He} = 20°C = 293 K
- Atomic mass of Ar: MAr=39.9M_{Ar} = 39.9 u
- Atomic mass of He: MHe=4.0M_{He} = 4.0 u
- Let the required temperature of argon be TArT_{Ar}.

Formula for rms speed:
vrms=3RTMv_{\text{rms}} = \sqrt{\frac{3RT}{M}}

Setting vrmsv_{\text{rms}} of Ar equal to vrmsv_{\text{rms}} of He:
3RTArMAr=3RTHeMHe\sqrt{\frac{3RT_{Ar}}{M_{Ar}}} = \sqrt{\frac{3RT_{He}}{M_{He}}}

Squaring both sides:
TArMAr=THeMHe\frac{T_{Ar}}{M_{Ar}} = \frac{T_{He}}{M_{He}}

TAr=THe×MArMHeT_{Ar} = T_{He} \times \frac{M_{Ar}}{M_{He}}

TAr=293×39.94.0T_{Ar} = 293 \times \frac{39.9}{4.0}

TAr=293×9.975T_{Ar} = 293 \times 9.975

TAr2923 K\boxed{T_{Ar} \approx 2923 \text{ K}}

The argon gas must be at approximately 2923 K for its rms speed to equal that of helium at 293 K.
12.10Estimate the mean free path and collision frequency of a nitrogen molecule in a cylinder containing nitrogen at 2.0 atm and temperature 17°C. Take the radius of a nitrogen molecule to be roughly 1.0 Å. Compare the collision time with the time the molecule moves freely between two successive collisions (Molecular mass of N₂ = 28.0 u).Show solution
Given:
- Pressure: P=2.0P = 2.0 atm =2.0×1.013×105=2.026×105= 2.0 \times 1.013 \times 10^5 = 2.026 \times 10^5 Pa
- Temperature: T=17°C=290T = 17°C = 290 K
- Radius of N₂ molecule: r=1.0r = 1.0 Å, so diameter d=2r=2.0d = 2r = 2.0 Å =2.0×1010= 2.0 \times 10^{-10} m
- Molecular mass: M=28.0M = 28.0 g/mol =28.0×103= 28.0 \times 10^{-3} kg/mol
- kB=1.38×1023k_B = 1.38 \times 10^{-23} J K⁻¹, R=8.31R = 8.31 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹

---

Step 1: Number density nn
n=PkBT=2.026×1051.38×1023×290n = \frac{P}{k_B T} = \frac{2.026\times10^5}{1.38\times10^{-23}\times290}
=2.026×1054.002×1021=5.06×1025 m3= \frac{2.026\times10^5}{4.002\times10^{-21}} = 5.06 \times 10^{25} \text{ m}^{-3}

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Step 2: Mean free path ll
l=12nπd2l = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}\, n\pi d^2}
=12×5.06×1025×π×(2.0×1010)2= \frac{1}{\sqrt{2} \times 5.06\times10^{25} \times \pi \times (2.0\times10^{-10})^2}
=11.414×5.06×1025×3.14159×4.0×1020= \frac{1}{1.414 \times 5.06\times10^{25} \times 3.14159 \times 4.0\times10^{-20}}
=11.414×5.06×1025×1.2566×1019= \frac{1}{1.414 \times 5.06\times10^{25} \times 1.2566\times10^{-19}}
=11.414×6.358×106= \frac{1}{1.414 \times 6.358\times10^{6}}
=18.99×106= \frac{1}{8.99\times10^{6}}
l1.11×107 m1.1×107 m\boxed{l \approx 1.11 \times 10^{-7} \text{ m} \approx 1.1 \times 10^{-7} \text{ m}}

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Step 3: rms speed of N₂
vrms=3RTM=3×8.31×29028.0×103v_{\text{rms}} = \sqrt{\frac{3RT}{M}} = \sqrt{\frac{3 \times 8.31 \times 290}{28.0\times10^{-3}}}
=7230.30.028=258225508 m/s= \sqrt{\frac{7230.3}{0.028}} = \sqrt{258225} \approx 508 \text{ m/s}

(We use vrmsv_{\text{rms}} as an estimate for the average speed; more precisely vˉ=8kBT/πm0.92vrms467\bar{v} = \sqrt{8k_BT/\pi m} \approx 0.92\, v_{\text{rms}} \approx 467 m/s. We use 508\approx 508 m/s for the estimate.)

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Step 4: Collision frequency ff
f=vrmsl=5081.11×107f = \frac{v_{\text{rms}}}{l} = \frac{508}{1.11\times10^{-7}}
f4.6×109 s1\boxed{f \approx 4.6 \times 10^{9} \text{ s}^{-1}}

(About 4.6×1094.6 \times 10^9 collisions per second.)

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Step 5: Compare collision time with free travel time

The diameter of a nitrogen molecule is d=2.0×1010d = 2.0 \times 10^{-10} m.

Time for a collision (time to traverse one molecular diameter):
tcollision=dvrms=2.0×10105083.9×1013 st_{\text{collision}} = \frac{d}{v_{\text{rms}}} = \frac{2.0\times10^{-10}}{508} \approx 3.9 \times 10^{-13} \text{ s}

Time between collisions (free travel time):
tfree=lvrms=1.11×1075082.2×1010 st_{\text{free}} = \frac{l}{v_{\text{rms}}} = \frac{1.11\times10^{-7}}{508} \approx 2.2 \times 10^{-10} \text{ s}

Ratio:
tfreetcollision=2.2×10103.9×1013564500\frac{t_{\text{free}}}{t_{\text{collision}}} = \frac{2.2\times10^{-10}}{3.9\times10^{-13}} \approx 564 \approx 500

tfreetcollision500\boxed{\frac{t_{\text{free}}}{t_{\text{collision}}} \approx 500}

Conclusion: The time a molecule spends in free travel between collisions is about 500 times the time spent during a collision. This confirms that molecules spend most of their time moving freely, and collisions are very brief events.

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