If a gas is in equilibrium at 19 $\circ$ C and is then heated to 38 $\circ$ C,what is the ratio of the average molecular speed to its previous value?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The average molecular speed of a gas is proportional to the square root of its absolute temperature (in Kelvin). When the temperature is increased from 19°C to 38°C, we first convert these temperatures to Kelvin (by adding 273) to get 292K and 311K, respectively. The ratio of the speeds is then the square root of the ratio of the temperatures, which is $\sqrt{\frac{311}{292}}$, matching choice (C).

If a Gas Is in Equilibrium at 19 ∘\circ∘ C and Is Then Heated to 38

If a Gas Is in Equilibrium at 19^$\circ$C and Is Then Heated to 38