Question

What does k represent in the formula (3/2)kT?

Answer 1

In the formula \((3/2)kT\), the symbol \(k\) represents the Boltzmann constant. The Boltzmann constant connects the average kinetic energy of particles in a gas with the temperature of that gas. Its value is approximately \(1.38 \times 10^{-23} \, \text{J/K}\). In this formula, \(T\) represents the absolute temperature measured in kelvins (K). The term \((3/2)kT\) is often used in the context of the kinetic theory of gases, specifically to describe the average kinetic energy of a monatomic ideal gas.