Answer:
C. As the temperature increases, the speed of gas molecules increases.
Step-by-step explanation:
- Kinetic Molecular Theory states that gas particles are in constant motion and exhibit perfectly elastic collisions.
- Kinetic Molecular Theory can be used to explain both Charles’ and Boyle’s Laws.
- The average kinetic energy of a collection of gas particles is directly proportional to absolute temperature only.
The following are the basic assumptions of the Kinetic Molecular Theory:
- The volume occupied by the individual particles of a gas is negligible compared to the volume of the gas itself.
- The particles of an ideal gas exert no attractive forces on each other or on their surroundings.
- Gas particles are in a constant state of random motion and move in straight lines until they collide with another body.
- The collisions exhibited by gas particles are completely elastic; when two molecules collide, total kinetic energy is conserved.
- The average kinetic energy of gas molecules is directly proportional to absolute temperature only; this implies that all molecular motion ceases if the temperature is reduced to absolute zero.
So, the right choice is:
C. As the temperature increases, the speed of gas molecules increases.