What is the average kinetic energy of a nitrogen molecule in the air in a room in which the air temperature is 17°C? A) 6.01 × 10^-21 J B) 4.00 × 10^-21 J C) 5.00 × 10^-21 J D) 7.00 × 10^-21 J E) 9.00 × 10^-21 J

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The average kinetic energy of a molecule is given by (3/2)kT, where k is the Boltzmann constant (1.38 × 10^-23 J/K) and T is the temperature in Kelvin. Converting 17°C to Kelvin gives 290 K. Plugging in the values, the average kinetic energy is approximately 6.01 × 10^-21 J.

What Is the Average Kinetic Energy of a Nitrogen Molecule