On the basis of the kinetic theory of gases, when the absolute temperature is doubled, the average kinetic energy of the gas molecules changes by a factor of
A) 16
B) 2
D) 4
E) 0.5

Question

On the basis of the kinetic theory of gases, when the absolute temperature is doubled, the average kinetic energy of the gas molecules changes by a factor of
A) 16 
B) 2 
D) 4 
E) 0.5

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to the kinetic theory of gases, the average kinetic energy of gas molecules is proportional to the temperature. This means that if the temperature is doubled, the average kinetic energy of the gas molecules will also double. Therefore, the factor by which the average kinetic energy changes is 2. Thus, the correct choice is B.

On the Basis of the Kinetic Theory of Gases, When