Define average kinetic energy.
Understand the Problem
The question is asking for the definition of average kinetic energy, which pertains to physics and the behavior of objects in motion. It seeks to clarify the concept and possibly its mathematical representation.
Answer
The energy contained in the motion of gas particles, calculated as 1/2 m * (RMS speed)^2
The average kinetic energy is the energy contained in the motion of a gas's particles, typically calculated as the product of half the mass of each particle and the square of the root mean square (RMS) speed.
Answer for screen readers
The average kinetic energy is the energy contained in the motion of a gas's particles, typically calculated as the product of half the mass of each particle and the square of the root mean square (RMS) speed.
More Information
Average kinetic energy is directly proportional to the absolute temperature of the gas, meaning as the temperature increases, so does the average kinetic energy.
Tips
A common mistake is to confuse RMS velocity with average velocity; RMS velocity is used in the kinetic energy formula.
Sources
- How to Calculate the Average Kinetic Energy of Molecules in Gas at a Certain Temperature - Study.com - study.com
- CK12-Foundation: Average Kinetic Energy and Temperature - flexbooks.ck12.org
- Average Kinetic Energy - ScienceDirect - sciencedirect.com
