Question

Consider a mixture of oxygen and hydrogen kept at room temperature. As compared to a hydrogen molecule an oxygen molecule hits the wall

Options

• with greater average speed

• with smaller average speed

• with greater average kinetic energy 

• with smaller average kinetic energy 

Answer 1

with smaller average speed

The average speed of molecules is given by \[\sqrt{\frac{8kT}{\pi m}}\] .

We observe that greater the mass, lesser is the average speed of the molecule. Since an oxygen molecule is heavier than a hydrogen molecule, the oxygen molecule will hit the wall with smaller average speed.