Question

The temperature of a sample of neon is raised from 20 degrees C to 40 degrees C, the average kinetic energy of the neon atoms changes by a factor of?
The answer is suppose to be 313/293, but I don't get how.
My idea was since average KE = (3/2) kT then the KE would only change by 2. Can you help explain this to me?

Answers

drwls
The average kinetic energy of atoms or molecules is proportional to the absolute temperature, T. You understand that already. (Note that is independent of atom or molecule weight!)

KE2/KE1 = (3/2)kT2/[(3/2)kT1] = T2/T1

The absolute temperature increases by a factor (273+40)/(273+20)= 313/293

So that is the answer.
Tushar
Temperature should be in Kelvin
Abhishek
1/3
Muskan
He is right

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