At the same temperature, the average speed of gas particles is directly proportional to the square root of their mass.
The molecular mass of helium is approximately 4 atomic mass units (u), and the molecular mass of nitrogen is approximately 28 u.
Let Vh and Vn be the average speeds of helium and nitrogen, respectively.
According to the kinetic theory of gases, the ratio of their average speeds can be found using the formula:
Vh/Vn = √(Mn/Mh)
Vh/Vn = √(28/4) = √7 ≈ 2.65
Therefore, a helium atom travels approximately 2.65 times faster than a nitrogen molecule at the same temperature.
How much faster does a helium atom travel than a nitrogen molecule at thesame temperature?
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