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Solved: CP (a) Compute the increase in gravitational
Chapter 18, Problem 72P(choose chapter or problem)
Problem 72P
CP (a) Compute the increase in gravitational potential energy for a nitrogen molecule (molar mass 28.0 g/mol) for an increase in elevation of 400 m near the earth’s surface. (b) At what temperature is this equal to the average kinetic energy of a nitrogen molecule? (c) Is it possible that a nitrogen molecule near sea level where T = 15.0o C could rise to an altitude of 400 m? Is it likely that it could do so without hitting any other molecules along the way? Explain.
Questions & Answers
QUESTION:
Problem 72P
CP (a) Compute the increase in gravitational potential energy for a nitrogen molecule (molar mass 28.0 g/mol) for an increase in elevation of 400 m near the earth’s surface. (b) At what temperature is this equal to the average kinetic energy of a nitrogen molecule? (c) Is it possible that a nitrogen molecule near sea level where T = 15.0o C could rise to an altitude of 400 m? Is it likely that it could do so without hitting any other molecules along the way? Explain.
ANSWER:Solution 72P
Step 1
The molar mass of N2 gas is
And the avogadro number is
So, the mass of one molecule is
Now the potential energy at a height is given by