Question

a cylinder of oxygen gas is cooled from 300K to 150K by what factor does the average kinetic energy of the oxygen molecules in the cylinder decrease

Answer 1

Temperature is a measure of average kinetic energy thus absolute temperature is proportional to average kinetic energy. It should be half: same factor as the temperature.

Answer 2

The factor by which the average kinetic energy of the oxygen molecules in the cylinder decreases is '0.5'.

Step-by-step explanation:

Average kinetic energy is defined as the average of the kinetic energies of all the particles present in a system. It is determined by the equation:

`K=(3RT)/(2N_A)`

where,

K = Average kinetic energy

R = Gas constant

T = Temperature of the system

`N_A` = Avogadro's number

Average kinetic energy of oxygen gas molecule at 300 K.

`K.E=(3R* 300 K)/(2N_A)`..[1]

Average kinetic energy of oxygen gas molecule at 150 K.

`K.E'=(3R* 150 K)/(2N_A)`..[2]

[1] ÷ [2]

`(K.E)/(K.E')=((3R* 300 K)/(2N_A))/((3R* 150 K)/(2N_A))=(300)/(150)=2`

`K.E'=0.5* K.E`

The factor by which the average kinetic energy of the oxygen molecules in the cylinder decreases is '0.5'.