Thermal Physics - NEET Physics Questions
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Thermal Physics

Question 31: moderate

N2 molecules is 14 times heavier than a H2 molecule. At what temperature will the rms speed of H2 molecules be equal to that of N2 molecule at 27° C :

1. 50° C
2. 40° C
3. 87° C
4. 21.4 K
View Answer

To have the same rms speed for \(\text{H}_2\) and \(\text{N}_2\), we use the formula for rms speed:

\[
v_{\text{rms}} = \sqrt{\frac{3k_B T}{m}}
\]

Since the rms speeds are equal, we can set up the equation:

\[
\sqrt{\frac{3k_B T_{\text{H}_2}}{m_{\text{H}_2}}} = \sqrt{\frac{3k_B T_{\text{N}_2}}{m_{\text{N}_2}}}
\]

Square both sides and simplify:

\[
\frac{T_{\text{H}_2}}{m_{\text{H}_2}} = \frac{T_{\text{N}_2}}{m_{\text{N}_2}}
\]

Since \(\text{N}_2\) is 14 times heavier than \(\text{H}_2\), we have \( m_{\text{N}_2} = 14 \, m_{\text{H}_2} \) and \( T_{\text{N}_2} = 27^\circ \text{C} = 300 \, \text{K} \).

Now solve for \( T_{\text{H}_2} \):

\[
T_{\text{H}_2} = \frac{T_{\text{N}_2}}{14} = \frac{300}{14} \approx 21.4 \, \text{K}
\]

So, the temperature at which \(\text{H}_2\) has the same rms speed as \(\text{N}_2\) at 27°C is approximately \( 21.4 \, \text{K} \).

Question 32: moderate

A mixture of 2 moles of helium gas (atomic mass = 4 amu) and 1 mole of argon gas (atomic mass = 40 amu) is kept at 300 K in a container. The ratio of the rms speeds \( \left( \frac{v_{rms}(helium)}{v_{rms}\left( argon \right)} \right) \) is:

1. 0.32
2. 0.45
3. 2.24
4. 3.16
View Answer

The root mean square (rms) speed \( v_{\text{rms}} \) of a gas is given by:

\[
v_{\text{rms}} = \sqrt{\frac{3RT}{M}}
\]

where \( M \) is the molar mass.

For helium (\( M = 4 \, \text{g/mol} \)) and argon (\( M = 40 \, \text{g/mol} \)) at the same temperature, the ratio of their rms speeds is:

\[
\frac{v_{\text{rms}(\text{He})}}{v_{\text{rms}(\text{Ar})}} = \sqrt{\frac{M_{\text{Ar}}}{M_{\text{He}}}} = \sqrt{\frac{40}{4}} = \sqrt{10} \approx 3.16
\]

Thus, the ratio \( \frac{v_{\text{rms}(\text{He})}}{v_{\text{rms}(\text{Ar})}} \) is approximately 3.16.

Question 33: moderate

A gas mixture consists of 2 moles of oxygen and 4 moles of argon at temperature T. Neglecting all vibrational modes the total internal energy of the system is :

1. 4 RT
2. 15 RT
3. 9 RT
4. 11 RT
View Answer

For a gas mixture of oxygen (\(\text{O}_2\)) and argon (\(\text{Ar}\)):

1. **Oxygen (\(\text{O}_2\))** is diatomic, so its internal energy per mole is:
\[
U_{\text{O}_2} = \frac{5}{2} RT
\]
For 2 moles, \( U_{\text{O}_2} = 2 \times \frac{5}{2} RT = 5 RT \).

2. **Argon (\(\text{Ar}\))** is monatomic, so its internal energy per mole is:
\[
U_{\text{Ar}} = \frac{3}{2} RT
\]
For 4 moles, \( U_{\text{Ar}} = 4 \times \frac{3}{2} RT = 6 RT \).

3. **Total internal energy**:
\[
U_{\text{total}} = U_{\text{O}_2} + U_{\text{Ar}} = 5 RT + 6 RT = 11 RT
\]

So, the total internal energy of the system is \( 11 RT \).

Question 34: moderate

At what temperature, the mean kinetic energy of O2 will be the same as that of H2 molecules at – 73°C ?

1. 127°C
2. 527°C
3. -73°C
4. -173°C
View Answer

The mean kinetic energy of gas molecules depends only on temperature and is given by:

\[
\text{KE} = \frac{3}{2} k_B T
\]

where \( T \) is the temperature in Kelvin, and \( k_B \) is Boltzmann's constant.

Since we want the mean kinetic energy of \(\text{O}_2\) to equal that of \(\text{H}_2\) at \( -73^\circ \text{C} \):

1. Convert \(-73^\circ \text{C}\) to Kelvin:
\[
T_{\text{H}_2} = -73 + 273 = 200 \, \text{K}
\]

2. Since kinetic energy depends only on temperature, set the temperature \( T_{\text{O}_2} = T_{\text{H}_2} = 200 \, \text{K} \).

Therefore, the temperature at which \(\text{O}_2\) has the same mean kinetic energy as \(\text{H}_2\) at \(-73^\circ \text{C}\) is \(200 \, \text{K}\).

Question 35: moderate

During an experiment an ideal gas obeys an \( PV^{\frac{1}{2}}=constant \) . The initial condition of temperature and volume are T and V. When it expand to volume 4V, than its temperature will be :

1. T
2. 2T
3. √2 T
4. 4T
View Answer

For an ideal gas obeying \( PV^{\frac{1}{2}} = \text{constant} \):

1. Use the ideal gas law: \( PV = nRT \), so \( P = \frac{nRT}{V} \).
2. Substitute \( P = \frac{nRT}{V} \) in \( PV^{\frac{1}{2}} = \text{constant} \):

\[
\frac{nRT}{V} \cdot V^{\frac{1}{2}} = \text{constant} \Rightarrow nRT \cdot V^{-\frac{1}{2}} = \text{constant}
\]

3. At initial state, \( T = T \) and \( V = V \):

\[
T V^{-\frac{1}{2}} = \text{constant}
\]

4. When \( V \) changes to \( 4V \):

\[
T' (4V)^{-\frac{1}{2}} = T V^{-\frac{1}{2}}
\]

5. Simplify:

\[
T' \cdot \frac{1}{2} = T \Rightarrow T' = 2T
\]

So, the final temperature \( T' = 2T \).

Question 36: moderate

If a metallic sphere gets cooled from 62°C to 50°C in 10 minutes and in the next 10 minutes gets cooled to 42°C, then the temperature of the surroundings is

1. 30°C
2. 36°C
3. 26°C
4. 20°C
View Answer

Let the temperature of the surroundings be \( T_s \).

Given:
- First cooling: from \( 62^\circ \text{C} \) to \( 50^\circ \text{C} \) in 10 minutes.
- Second cooling: from \( 50^\circ \text{C} \) to \( 42^\circ \text{C} \) in the next 10 minutes.

Step 1: Use Newton's Law of Cooling
According to Newton's law:
\[
\frac{T_1 - T_2}{T_1 - T_s} = \frac{T_2 - T_3}{T_2 - T_s}
\]

Step 2: Substitute Values
Let \( T_1 = 62^\circ \text{C} \), \( T_2 = 50^\circ \text{C} \), and \( T_3 = 42^\circ \text{C} \).

Then:
\[
\frac{62 - 50}{62 - T_s} = \frac{50 - 42}{50 - T_s}
\]

Step 3: Solve for \( T_s \)
\[
\frac{12}{62 - T_s} = \frac{8}{50 - T_s}
\]

Cross-multiplying:
\[
12(50 - T_s) = 8(62 - T_s)
\]

Expanding and simplifying:
\[
600 - 12T_s = 496 - 8T_s
\]

\[
4T_s = 104 \Rightarrow T_s = 26^\circ \text{C}
\]

So, the temperature of the surroundings is \( 26^\circ \text{C} \).

Question 37: moderate

It takes 10 minutes to cool a liquid from 61°C to 59°C. If room temperature is 30°C then time taken in cooling from 51°C to 49°C is

1. 10 min
2. 11 min
3. 13 min
4. 15 min
View Answer

Using Newton's law of cooling:

Given:
- Initial cooling: from \( T_1 = 61^\circ \text{C} \) to \( T_2 = 59^\circ \text{C} \) in \( \Delta t_1 = 10 \) minutes, with room temperature \( T_s = 30^\circ \text{C} \).
- New cooling required: from \( T_3 = 51^\circ \text{C} \) to \( T_4 = 49^\circ \text{C} \).

Using the proportionality from Newton's law:
\[
\frac{\Delta t_1}{\Delta t_2} = \frac{\text{Average Temp Difference in Initial Cooling}}{\text{Average Temp Difference in New Cooling}}
\]

Calculate average temperature differences:
1. For initial cooling: \( \frac{61 + 59}{2} - 30 = 60 - 30 = 30 \)
2. For new cooling: \( \frac{51 + 49}{2} - 30 = 50 - 30 = 20 \)

Then:
\[
\frac{10}{\Delta t_2} = \frac{30}{20}
\]

Solving for \( \Delta t_2 \):
\[
\Delta t_2 = 10 \times \frac{20}{30} = 15 \text{ minutes}
\]

Question 38: moderate

A cup of tea cools from 80ºC to 79.9°C in 5 minute. If temperature of surroundings is 20°C. Then how much time will it take to cool from 70°C to 69.9°C? Assume Newton’s law of cooling is valid here

1. 5 minute
2. 6 minute
3. 7 minute
4. 8 minute
View Answer

Using Newton's law of cooling:

Given:
- Initial cooling: \( T_1 = 80^\circ \text{C} \) to \( T_2 = 79.9^\circ \text{C} \) in 5 min, surroundings \( T_s = 20^\circ \text{C} \).
- New cooling required: from \( 70^\circ \text{C} \) to \( 69.9^\circ \text{C} \).

For both cases, Newton's law states:
\[
\frac{\Delta T}{\Delta t} \propto (T - T_s)
\]

Since the temperature difference is small in both cases, we assume:
\[
\frac{\Delta t_1}{\Delta t_2} = \frac{T_1 - T_s}{T_3 - T_s}
\]

So:
\[
\frac{5}{\Delta t_2} = \frac{80 - 20}{70 - 20} \Rightarrow \Delta t_2 = 5 \times \frac{70 - 20}{80 - 20} = 5 \times \frac{50}{60} = 6 \text{ min}
\]

Question 39: moderate

Certain quantity of water cools from 70°C to 60°C in the first 5 minutes and to 54°C in the next 5 minutes. The temperature of the surroundings is

1. 45°C
2. 20°C
3. 42°C
4. 10°C
View Answer

Using Newton's law of cooling:

Let \( T_s \) be the temperature of the surroundings, and \( T_1 = 70^\circ \text{C} \), \( T_2 = 60^\circ \text{C} \), \( T_3 = 54^\circ \text{C} \).

The average temperatures in each time interval are:
1. For first 5 minutes: \( \frac{70 + 60}{2} = 65^\circ \text{C} \)
2. For next 5 minutes: \( \frac{60 + 54}{2} = 57^\circ \text{C} \)

According to Newton's law:
\[
\frac{T_1 - T_2}{T_1 - T_s} = \frac{T_2 - T_3}{T_2 - T_s}
\]

Substitute values:
\[
\frac{70 - 60}{65 - T_s} = \frac{60 - 54}{57 - T_s}
\]

Simplifying:
\[
\frac{10}{65 - T_s} = \frac{6}{57 - T_s}
\]

Cross-multiplying and solving for \( T_s \) gives \( T_s = 45^\circ \text{C} \).

Question 40: moderate

A black body is at a temperature of 5760 K. The energy of radiation emitted by the body at wavelength 250 nm is U1, at wavelength 500 nm is U2 and that at 1000 nm is U3. Wien’s constant, b=2.88\times 10^{6} nmK. Which of the following is correct?

1. U2 > U1
2. U1 = 0
3. U3 = 0
4. U1 > U2
View Answer

To solve this, we use Wien's Displacement Law, which states:

\[
\lambda_{\text{max}} = \frac{b}{T}
\]

Where:
- \(\lambda_{\text{max}}\) is the wavelength at which the maximum energy is emitted,
- \(b = 2.88 \times 10^6 \, \text{nmK}\) is Wien's constant,
- \(T = 5760 \, K\) is the temperature of the black body.

Step 1: Calculate \(\lambda_{\text{max}}\)
\[
\lambda_{\text{max}} = \frac{2.88 \times 10^6}{5760} = 500 \, \text{nm}
\]

This means that the maximum energy is emitted at a wavelength of 500 nm.

 Step 2: Compare the energies at different wavelengths

- At 500 nm (\( \lambda_{\text{max}} \)): This is where the black body emits the maximum energy. So, \(U_2\) will be the largest.
- At 250 nm: This wavelength is shorter than \(\lambda_{\text{max}}\), and the energy decreases as we move away from the peak, so \(U_1 < U_2\).
- At 1000 nm: This wavelength is longer than \(\lambda_{\text{max}}\), and the energy decreases further, so \(U_3 < U_2\).

Thus, \(U_2 > U_1\), and the correct comparison is \(U_2 > U_1\).