Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Thermal Energy
Thermal energy is the total kinetic energy of the particles in a substance due to their motion. It is directly related to temperature, where higher temperatures correspond to greater thermal energy. In the context of gases, thermal energy can be calculated using the formula E = nRT, where E is the thermal energy, n is the number of moles, R is the ideal gas constant, and T is the absolute temperature in Kelvin.
Recommended video:
Ideal Gas Law
The Ideal Gas Law is a fundamental equation in thermodynamics that relates the pressure, volume, temperature, and number of moles of an ideal gas. It is expressed as PV = nRT, where P is pressure, V is volume, n is the number of moles, R is the ideal gas constant, and T is temperature in Kelvin. This law helps in understanding the behavior of gases under various conditions and is essential for calculating thermal energy.
Recommended video:
Ideal Gases and the Ideal Gas Law
Molecular Degrees of Freedom
Molecular degrees of freedom refer to the independent ways in which a molecule can move or store energy. For a water molecule, which is a triatomic molecule, it has translational, rotational, and vibrational degrees of freedom. At lower temperatures, certain vibrational modes may be inactive, affecting the total energy calculations. Understanding these degrees of freedom is crucial for analyzing the thermal energy of substances.
Recommended video:
Introduction to Kinetic-Molecular Theory