Gas Molecules at Absolute Zero – Rankers Physics
Topic: Thermal Physics
Subtopic: Kinetic Theory of Gases

Gas Molecules at Absolute Zero

Assertion (A): For gas molecules absolute zero temperature is not the temperature of zero energy.
Reason (R): Only the kinetic energy of the molecules is represented by temperature.
 
(1) Both (A) & (R) are true and the (R) is the correct explanation of the (A)
(2) Both (A) & (R) are true but the (R) is not the correct explanation of the (A)
(3) (A) is true but (R) is false
(4) Both (A) and (R) are false

Solution:

Concept: Temperature and molecular energy. Temperature is a direct measure of the average translational kinetic energy of molecules. While kinetic energy is minimal at 0 K, gas molecules can still have potential energy from intermolecular interactions. Thus,0 K is not zero total energy. Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) explains (A).

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