Practice question
Question
A solid has a molar specific heat capacity of 24.5 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹. How many degrees of freedom per atom does it have? (R = 8.31 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹)
Explanation
**RMS speed** v_rms = √(3 R T/M) = √(3 k_B T/m) where M molar mass (kg/mol), m molecular mass (kg), k_B=1.38×10⁻²/³ J/K, R=8.314 J/mol·K, T absolute temperature (K). Proportional to √T and 1/√M, lighter gases faster at same T, e.g., H₂ faster than O₂, temperature increase raises v_rms as √T. C = f × (R)/(2), 24.5 = f × (8.31)/(2).f = (24.5 × 2)/(8.31) ≈ 5.9 ≈ 6. Substituting values gives 6, which matches expected kinetic theory result, confirming mean free path λ = 1/(√2 n π d²), ideal gas law P V = n R T and v_rms = √(3 R T/M) relations.
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