Question

Molecules of a gas are in a state of continuous motion 

1. What is most probable speed? 

2. Give the equation for average speed of molecules.

Answer 1

1. Most probable speed is the speed possessed by the maximum fraction of molecules of the gas at a given temperature.

2. If there are ‘n’ molecules in a sample and their individual speeds are u₁ , u₂ ……… u_n , then, average speed of molecules, u_av is given by the equation:

\(u_{av}=\frac{u_1+u2+...+u_n}{n}\)