alleryStart learning →Kinetic molecular theory assumes gas molecule collisions are elastic. What does that mean?
AThe molecules stick after colliding
BNo energy is lost in the collision
CThe molecules always speed up a bit
DCollisions happen only at the walls
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: B. No energy is lost in the collision
1. An elastic collision is one in which no kinetic energy is lost.
2. The theory reaches this by assuming the molecules exert no attractive or repulsive forces on each other or on the walls.
3. With nothing to absorb energy, the molecules bounce off and keep the total kinetic energy of the sample unchanged.
4. If collisions did lose energy, a sealed gas would slowly cool and its pressure would drift down on its own, which is not observed.
_Source: OpenStax Chemistry (CC BY 4.0), Ch 9 "Gases", section 9.5 The Kinetic-Molecular Theory_
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