Question

Describe what happens to the average kinetic energy of ideal gas molecules when the conditions are changed as follows:

a) Temperature is increased while keeping pressure constant.
b) Volume is decreased while keeping temperature constant.
c) Pressure is increased while keeping volume constant.
d) Volume is increased while keeping pressure constant.

Answer 1

The average kinetic energy of ideal gas molecules remains constant in cases b, c, and d, but increases in case a when the temperature is increased while keeping the pressure constant.

Step-by-step explanation:

a) When the temperature of an ideal gas is increased while keeping the pressure constant, the average kinetic energy of the gas molecules increases.

b) When the volume of an ideal gas is decreased while keeping the temperature constant, the average kinetic energy of the gas molecules remains constant.

c) When the pressure of an ideal gas is increased while keeping the volume constant, the average kinetic energy of the gas molecules remains constant.

d) When the volume of an ideal gas is increased while keeping the pressure constant, the average kinetic energy of the gas molecules remains constant.