Gas particles travel at speeds of up to 500 meters per second. Why, then, does it take so long for gas molecules to travel the length of a room?
A)It doesn't. The fact is that a high concentration of them is required in order for them to be detected.
B)Gas particles travel in circular motion expanding outward as the move.
C)Gas particles bump into each other as well as other particles in the air.
D)Strong attractive forces between the gas particles keep the individual particles from high speed escape.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Gas particles bump into each other as well as other particles in the air, causing them to slow down and take longer to travel the length of a room. Additionally, gas molecules are constantly colliding with surfaces and bouncing off in different directions, further slowing their overall movement. The high speed of gas particles only applies to their average speed, not their individual speeds, which can vary significantly due to collisions and interactions with other particles.

Gas Particles Travel at Speeds of Up to 500 Meters