An oxygen (O₂) molecule has twice the mass of a methane (CH₄) molecule. In a planet's atmosphere at some particular temperature, the average kinetic energy of an oxygen molecule is: A)the same as that of a methane molecule (that is, all molecules have the same average kinetic energy at the same temperature). B)1.4 times greater than that of a methane molecule (that is, the average kinetic energy increases in proportion to the square root of the mass). C)4 times greater than that of a methane molecule (that is, the average kinetic energy increases in proportion to the square of the mass). D)twice that of a methane molecule (that is, the average kinetic energy increases in the same proportion as the mass).

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The average kinetic energy of molecules in a gas is determined by the temperature of the gas, not by the mass of the molecules. Therefore, at the same temperature, all molecules, regardless of their mass, have the same average kinetic energy.

An Oxygen (O2) Molecule Has Twice the Mass of a Methane

An Oxygen (O₂) Molecule Has Twice the Mass of a Methane