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Kinetic Theory of Gases appeared 26 times across 3 years — 3% of Physics. This question is from Degrees of Freedom and Specific Heat of Gas Mixtures.

Year 2026 2025 2024 Total
Questions 6 11 9 26

N moles of a polyatomic gas (f = 6) must be mixed with two moles of a monoatomic gas so that the mixture behaves as a diatomic gas. The value of N is:

Solution & Explanation

Related Formula

The equivalent degrees of freedom feq for a mixture of gases is:

feq = (n₁ f₁ + n₂ f₂)/(n₁ + n₂)

where:

  • n₁, n₂ are the number of moles of each gas.
  • f₁, f₂ are the respective degrees of freedom of each gas.
Core Logic

For the given gases:

  • Polyatomic gas:
  • Moles, n₁ = N
  • Degrees of freedom, f₁ = 6
  • Monoatomic gas:
  • Moles, n₂ = 2
  • Degrees of freedom, f₂ = 3
  • We want the mixture to behave as a diatomic gas. For a diatomic gas:

  • Equivalent degrees of freedom, feq = 5
Step 1: Solve for N

Substitute the values into the degrees of freedom mixture formula:

5 = ((N)(6) + (2)(3))/(N + 2) 5(N + 2) = 6N + 6 5N + 10 = 6N + 6 10 - 6 = 6N - 5N N = 4
Pattern Recognition

Diatomic equivalent degree of freedom is 5. Since the monoatomic degrees of freedom (3) and polyatomic degrees of freedom (6) bracket 5, you can use the weighted ratio method to find the molar proportions directly.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Physics: Kinetic Theory of Gases

Reference Study Guides

More Kinetic Theory of Gases Previous-Year Questions — Page 5

Q50 jee_main_2024_27_jan_morning Kinetic Energy and Temperature
The average kinetic energy of a monatomic molecule is 0.414 eV at temperature:
  • A. 3000 K
  • B. 3200 K
  • C. 1600 K
  • D. 1500 K

Solution

Related Formula
Kavg = (3)/(2) kB T
Core Logic

Given energy is in electron-volts (1 eV = 1.6 × 10⁻¹⁹ J), we isolate T:

T = 2 Kavg3 kB

Substitute constants (kB = 1.38 × 10⁻²³ J/K):

Step 1: Compute value
T = 2 × 0.414 × 1.6 × 10⁻¹⁹3 × 1.38 × 10⁻²³ T = 1.3248 × 10⁻¹⁹4.14 × 10⁻²³ = 0.32 × 10⁴ = 3200 K
Pattern Recognition

Converting eV energy properties straight to structural SI standard Joules reveals highly cleanly simplified scalar components when paired with Boltzmann values.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Physics: Kinetic Theory of Gases

Q50 jee_main_2024_29_jan_morning Ideal Gas Equation
Two vessels A and B are of the same size and are at same temperature. A contains 1 ~g of hydrogen and B contains 1 ~g of oxygen. PA and PB are the pressures of the gases in A and B respectively, then (PA)/(PB) is:
  • A. 16
  • B. 8
  • C. 4
  • D. 32

Solution

Related Formula

From the Ideal Gas Law equation:

P V = n R T P = (n R T)/(V)
Core Logic

Given that both vessels possess the same volume (VA = VB) and identical temperature states (TA = TB), the ratio of pressure reduces directly to:

(PA)/(PB) = (nA)/(nB)

where nA and nB are the number of moles of Hydrogen and Oxygen respectively.

Step 1: Calculate the Number of Moles

For Hydrogen (H₂, molar mass = 2 ~g/mol):

nA = (1)/(2)

For Oxygen (O₂, molar mass = 32 ~g/mol):

nB = (1)/(32)
Step 2: Find the Pressure Ratio

Substituting mole counts into the direct ratio:

(PA)/(PB) = (1/2)/(1/32) = (32)/(2) = 16

Therefore, the pressure ratio (PA)/(PB) is 16.

Pattern Recognition

For gas mixtures or vessel comparisons under constant volume and temperature, pressure matches the molar abundance directly (P ∝ n). Remember that standard elementary gases (H₂, O₂, N₂) exist as diatomic configurations when defining molar values.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Physics: Kinetic Theory of Gases

Q46 jee_main_2024_30_january_evening Mixture of Gases
If three moles of monoatomic gas (γ = (5)/(3)) is mixed with two moles of a diatomic gas (γ = (7)/(5)), the value of adiabatic exponent γ for the mixture is:
  • A. 1.75
  • B. 1.40
  • C. 1.52
  • D. 1.35

Solution

Related Formula
fmixture = (n₁ f₁ + n₂ f₂)/(n₁ + n₂) γmixture = 1 + 2fmixture
Core Logic

For a monoatomic gas, degrees of freedom f₁ = 3. Moles n₁ = 3. For a diatomic gas, degrees of freedom f₂ = 5. Moles n₂ = 2. We can compute the equivalent degrees of freedom for the mixture using a weighted average.

Step 1: Calculate Equivalent Degrees of Freedom
fmixture = (n₁ f₁ + n₂ f₂)/(n₁ + n₂) fmixture = (3(3) + 2(5))/(3 + 2) = (9 + 10)/(5) = (19)/(5)
Step 2: Calculate Adiabatic Exponent
γmixture = 1 + 2fmixture γmixture = 1 + (2)/((19)/(5)) = 1 + (10)/(19) = (29)/(19) ≈ 1.52
Pattern Recognition

Alternatively, you can compute Cv and Cₚ for the mixture: Cv,mix = n₁ Cv1 + n₂ Cv2n₁ + n₂, and γmix = Cp,mixCv,mix. Both methods yield identical results rapidly.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Physics: Kinetic Theory of Gases Class 11 Physics: Thermodynamics

Q49 jee_main_2024_30_jan_morning RMS Velocity of Gases
At which temperature the r.m.s. velocity of a hydrogen molecule equal to that of an oxygen molecule at 47°C?
  • A. 80 ~K
  • B. -73 ~K
  • C. 4 ~K
  • D. 20 ~K

Solution

Related Formula
vrms = √((3RT)/(M))
Core Logic

For the RMS velocities to be equal, the ratio of temperature to molar mass (T/M) must be identical for both gases.

Step 1: Set Up Equivalency
3RTH₂MH₂ = 3RTO₂MO₂ TH₂MH₂ = TO₂MO₂
Step 2: Substitute Values

TO₂ = 47^ = 47 + 273 = 320 ~K MH₂ = 2 ~g/mol MO₂ = 32 ~g/mol

TH₂2 = (320)/(32) TH₂ = 2 × 10 = 20 ~K
Pattern Recognition

vrms scales strictly as √(T/M). Remember to always convert Celsius to Kelvin before substituting.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Physics: Kinetic Theory of Gases

Q38 jee_main_2024_31_jan_evening Internal Energy of a Gas Mixture
A gas mixture consists of 8 moles of argon and 6 moles of oxygen at temperature T. Neglecting all vibrational modes, the total internal energy of the system is
  • A. 29 RT
  • B. 20 RT
  • C. 27 RT
  • D. 21 RT

Solution

Related Formula

U = n Cv T where Cv = (f)/(2) R and f is the degree of freedom.

Core Logic

Argon (Ar) is monatomic f₁ = 3 Cv₁ = (3R)/(2). Oxygen (O₂) is diatomic f₂ = 5 (neglecting vibrational modes) Cv₂ = (5R)/(2). Total internal energy U = U₁ + U₂ = n₁ Cv₁ T + n₂ Cv₂ T.

Step 1: Compute Total Energy
U = 8 × ((3R)/(2)) T + 6 × ((5R)/(2)) T U = 4(3RT) + 3(5RT)

U = 12RT + 15RT U = 27 RT

Pattern Recognition

Internal energy is strictly additive. Immediately map Monatomic → 3/2 and Diatomic → 5/2. Plug linearly: 8(1.5) + 6(2.5) = 12 + 15 = 27.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Physics: Kinetic Theory of Gases Class 11 Physics: Thermodynamics

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