NCERT Solutions for Class 11

Physics
Chapter 12 - Kinetic Theory

1. Calculate the fraction of molecular volume to the actual volume occupied

by oxygen gas at STP. Consider taking the diameter of an oxygen
molecule to be 3 Å.
Ans:

The diameter of an oxygen molecule is given as: d  3A

d 3
Radius, r    1.5A  1.5  108 cm
2 2
At STP, the actual volume occupied by 1 mole of oxygen gas is given as:
22400cm3 .
4
The molecular volume of oxygen gas is given as: V  r 3.NA
3
Where, NA is Avogadro’s number: 6.023  1023 molecules / mole . Hence:
4
V  r 3.NA
3

  3.14  1.5  108  6.023 1023

4 3

3
 8.51cm 3

Therefore, the molecular volume of one mole of oxygen gas will be 8.51cm3 .
Now, the ratio of the molecular volume to the actual volume of oxygen can be
given as:
Vmolar 8.51
  3.8  104
Vactual 22400

2. The volume which is occupied by 1 mole of any (ideal) gas at standard

temperature and pressure (STP: 1 atmospheric pressure, 00 C ) is molar
volume. Show that it is 22.4 liters.

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Ans:
The ideal gas equation is:
PV  nRT
R is the universal gas constant, R  8.314Jmol1K 1
n is the number of moles, n  1
T is standard temperature, T  273K
P is standard pressure, P  1atm  1.013  105 Nm 2
nRT
V 
P
1 8.314  273
V  0.0224m3  22.4litres
1.013  10 5

So, we can say that the molar volume of a gas is 22.4 liters at STP.

3. The diagram below shows a plot of PV versus P for 1.00  103 Kg

T
oxygen gas at two different temperatures.

a) What does the dotted plot signify?

Ans:
In the graph, the dotted plot signifies the ideal behavior of the gas, i.e., the ratio
PV
is equal. R is a constant quality.
T
 is the number of moles

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R is the universal gas constant
It is independent on the pressure of the gas.

b) Which is true: T1  T2 or T1  T2 ?
Ans:
In the given graph, the dotted plot represents an ideal gas. At temperature T1 , the
curve of the gas is very closer to the dotted plot than for the curve of the gas at
temperature T2 . The behavior of a real gas approaches ideal gas when its
temperature increases. Therefore, T1  T2 is true.

PV
c) value, where the curves meet on the y-axis is?
T
Ans:
PV
The ratio for the meeting of two curves is R . So, the ideal gas equation is,
T
PV  RT
Where P is the pressure
T is the temperature
V is the volume
 is the number of moles
R is the universal constant
The molecular mass of oxygen=32.0g
Mass of oxygen  1  103 kg  1g

R  8.314Jmol1K 1
PV 1
   8.314  0.26JK 1
T 32
The value of the ratio
PV
So, the value of the ratio , where the curves meet on the y-axis, is 0.26JK 1
T

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d) Will we be getting the same value of PV at the point where the curves
T
meet on the y-axis, if for 1.00  103 Kg of hydrogen we get similar plots?
Mass of hydrogen that produces the same value of PV (for a low-
T
pressure high-temperature region of the plot) if it is not the case?
(Molecular mass of H2  2.02u,O2  32.0u , and R  8.314Jmol 1K 1 )
Ans:
If a similar plot for 1.00  103 Kg of hydrogen, then we won’t get the same value
of PV at the point where the curves meet the y-axis. Since the molecular mass
T
of hydrogen (2.02 u) is not the same as that of oxygen (32.0 u).
We have:
PV
  0.26JK 1
T
R  8.314Jmol1K 1
Molecular mass M of H2  2.02u
PV  RT at constant temperature
m

M
m is the mass of H 2
PV M 0.26  2.02
m    6.3 102 g  6.3 105 kg
T R 8.31
PV
Hence, 6.3  10 2 g of H 2 will get the same value of
T

4. A 30 liters oxygen cylinder has an initial gauge pressure of 15 atm and a

temperature of 270 C . The gauge pressure drops to 11 atm, and its
temperature drops to 17 0 C when some oxygen is withdrawn from the
cylinder. Estimate the mass of oxygen taken out of the cylinder (
R  8.314Jmol 1K 1 , the molecular mass of O2  32u ).
Ans:

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The volume of oxygen, V1  30litres  30  103 m3

Gauge pressure, P1  15atm  15  1.013  105 Pa

Temperature, T1  270 C  300K

Universal gas constant, R  8.314Jmol1K 1

Consider the initial number of moles of oxygen gas in the cylinder be n1
The gas equation is given as:
P1V1  n1RT1
P1V 15.195  105  30  103
 n1    18.276
RT1 8.314  300
m1
But n1 
M
Where,
m1  the initial mass of oxygen
M  The molecular mass of oxygen=32g
m1  n1M  18.276  32  584.84g
The pressure and temperature reduce after some oxygen is withdrawn from the
cylinder.
Volume, V2  30litres  30  103 m3

Gauge pressure, P2  11atm  11  1.013  105 Pa

Temperature, T2  170 C  290K

Let consider n 2 , the number of moles of oxygen left in the cylinder.
The gas equation is given as:
P2V2  n 2RT2

P2V2 11.143  105  30  103

n2    13.86
RT2 8.314  290
m2
But, n 2 
M
Where,

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The remaining mass of oxygen in the cylinder is m 2
m2  n 2M  13.86  32  443.52g
So, the mass of oxygen taken out is:
The initial mass of oxygen in the cylinder – Final mass of oxygen in the cylinder
 m1  m2  584.84  443.522  141.32g  0.141kg
0.141kg of oxygen is hence taken out of the cylinder.

5. An air bubble which is having a volume 1.0cm 3 rises from the bottom of
a lake 40 m deep at a temperature of 120 C . When it reaches the surface,
which is at a temperature of 350 C , to what volume does it grow?
Ans:
The volume of the air bubble, V1  1.0cm3  1.0  106 m3
The bubble rises to height, d  40m
The temperature at a depth of 40m, T1  120 C  285K

The temperature is T2  350 C  308K , at the surface of the lake

On the surface of the lake the pressure,
P2  1atm  1  1.013  105 Pa
The pressure at the depth of 40m, P1  1atm  dg
Where,
 is the density of water  103 kgm 3
g is the acceleration due to gravity  9.8ms 1
 P1  1.013  105  40  103  9.8  493300Pa
P1V1 P2 V2
We have: 
T1 T2
V2 is the air bubbles volume when it reaches the surface

P1V1T2 493300 1.0 106  308

V2    5.263  106 m3  5.263cm3
T1P2 285 1.013 10 5

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The volume of air bubble becomes 5.263cm3 when it reaches the surface.

6. Determine the total number of air molecules (that includes oxygen,

nitrogen, water vapor, and other constituents) in a room of capacity
 
25.0m 3 at a temperature of 27 0 C and 1atm pressure.

Ans:
The volume of the room, V  25.0m3
The temperature of the room, T  270 C  300K
Pressure in the room, P  1atm  1  1.1013  105 Pa
The ideal gas equation:
PV  KB NT
Where,
K B is Boltzmann constant, K B  1.38  1023 m 2 kgs 2K 1
Number of air molecules in the room be N.
PV 1.013  105  25
N  23
 6.11 1026 molecules
k BT 1.38  10  300
The total number of air molecules is 6.11  1026

7. Find out the average thermal energy of a helium atom at the following
cases:
i. Room temperature 27 0 C 
Ans:
At room temperature, T  270 C  300K
3
Average thermal energy  kT
2
Where k is Boltzmann constant  1.38  1023 m 2 kgs 2 K 1
3 3
 kT   1.38  1038  300  6.21 1021 J
2 2

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So, the average thermal energy is  270 C  is 6.21 1021 J

ii. The temperature on the sun’s surface  6000K 

Ans:
On the surface of the sun, T  6000K
3 3
Average thermal energy  kT   1.38  1038  6000  1.241  1019 J
2 2
Hence, the average thermal energy is 1.241  1019 J

iii. At a temperature of 10 million kelvin ( the typical core temperature in the

case of a star).
Ans:
At temperature, T  107 K
3 3
Average thermal energy  kT   1.38  1023  107  2.07  1016 J
2 2
Hence, the average thermal energy is 2.07  1016 J .

8. Three vessels all of the same capacity have gases at the same pressure and
temperature. It consists of neon which is monatomic, in the first one, the
second contains diatomic chlorine, and the third contains uranium
hexafluoride (polyatomic).
a) Do you think all the vessels contain an equal number of respective
molecules?
Ans:
Yes. The same number of the respective molecules is there in all the vessels.
They have the same volume since the three vessels have the same capacity.
All gases are of same pressure, volume, and temperature.
Avogadro’s law states the three vessels consist of an equal number of molecules.
This equals Avogadro’s number, N  6.023  1023 .

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 b) Is in all three cases, the root mean square speed of molecules the same? If
it is not the case, in which case is vrms the largest?
Ans:
No. Neon has the largest root-mean-square speed.
The root mean square speed v rms of gas of mass m, and temperature T, is given
by the relation:
3kT
v rms 
m
Where k is Boltzmann constant
k and T are constants for the given gases.
v rms only depends on the mass of the atoms, i.e.,

l
v rms
m
So, in the three cases, the root-means-square speed of the molecules is not the
same.
The mass of neon is the smallest among neon, chlorine, and uranium hexafluoride
and so possesses the largest root mean square speed.

9. Calculate the temperature at which the root mean square speed of an argon
atom in a gas cylinder is equal to the RMS speed of a helium gas atom at
200 C ? (atomic mass of Ar = 39.9 u, of He = 4.0 u)
Ans:
The temperature of the helium atom, THe  200 C  253K
The atomic mass of argon, MAr  39.9u
The atomic mass of helium, MHe  4.0u
Let,  vrms Ar be the rms speed of argon.

Let,  vrms He be the rms speed of helium.

Argon as an rms speed of,

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 3RTAr
 vrms Ar  ...... i 
M Ar
Where,
R is the universal gas constant
TAr is the temperature of argon gas
Helium has an rms speed of,
3RTHe
 vrms He  .....(ii)
M He
It is given that:
 vrms Ar   vrms He
3RTAr 3RTHe

M Ar M He
TAr T
 He
M Ar M He
THe 253
TAr   M Ar   39.9  2523.675  2.52  103 K
MHe 4
Argon atom is at a temperature of 2.52  103 K

10. Find out the collision frequency and also the mean free path of a nitrogen
molecule in a cylinder containing nitrogen at 2.0 atm and temperature
0
17 0 C . The nitrogen molecule has a radius of roughly 1.0 A . How collision
time is related with the time the molecule moves freely between two
successive collisions (Molecular mass of N2  28.0u ).
Ans:
Mean free path  1.11  107 m
Collision frequency  4.58  109 s 1
Successive collision time  500  collision time

The pressure inside the cylinder containing nitrogen, P  2.0atm  2.026  105 Pa

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Temperature inside the cylinder, T  170 C  290K
0
The radius of nitrogen molecule, r  1.0A  11010 m
Diameter, d  2  1 1010  2  1010 m
Molecular mass of nitrogen, M  28.0g  28  103 kg
For the nitrogen, root mean square speed is,
3RT
vrms 
M
Where,
R  8.314mole 1K 1 , is universal gas constant
3  8.314  290
 v rms  3
 508.26ms 1
28  10
The mean free path (l) is,
kT
l
2  d2  P
Where,
k  1.38  1023 kgm 2s 2 K 1 is the Boltzmann constant

1.38  1023  290

l   1.11 107 m
2  3.14   2  10 
10 2
 2.026  10 5

vrms 508.26
Collision frequency   7
 4.58  109 s 1
l 1.1110
The collision time is given as:
d 2  1010
T   3.93  1013 s
vrms 508.26
Between successive collisions, the time taken is
l 1.11 107 m
T'   1
 2.18  1010 s
vrms 508.26ms
T ' 2.18  1010
   500
T 3.93  1013

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For successive collisions, the time taken is 500 times the time taken for a
collision.

11. A 1-meter narrow bore that is kept horizontally (and closed at one end)
contains a 76 cm long mercury thread, which traps a 15 cm column of air.
Suppose the tube is kept vertically with its open end at the bottom, what
will happen?
Ans:
Length of the narrow bore, L=1m=100cm
Length of the mercury thread, l=76cm
Air column’s length between mercury and the closed-end, la  15cm
The air space occupied by mercury length: 100 – (76 + 15) = 9 cm
Hence, the total length of the air column=15+9=24cm
Let us consider as a result of atmospheric pressure, h cm of mercury flow out.
In the bore, length of air column =24+h cm
Mercury column’s length = 76 -h cm
Initial pressure, P1  76cm of mercury

Initial volume, V1  15cm 3

Final pressure, P2  76   76  h   h cm of mercury

Final volume, V2   24  h  cm3

Temperature here is constant
 P1V1  P2 V2
76  15  h  24  h 

 h 2  24h  1140  0

24  242   4  1 1140 

h   23.8cm or  47.8cm
2 1
Height cannot be negative.
So, 23.8 cm of mercury will flow out.
52.2cm of mercury will remain in the bore.

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 The length is,
24 + 23.8 = 47.8 cm

12. The diffusion rate of hydrogen has an average value of 28.7cm 3s 1 from
a certain apparatus. Under the same condition, the diffusion of another
gas is measured to have an average rate of 7.2cm 3s 1 . Identify the gas.

  M 2 M1  , where R1 ,R 2 are
R1 12
(Hint: Use Graham’s law of diffusion
R2
diffusion rates of gases 1 and 2, and M1 and M2 their respective molecular
masses.)
Ans:
Rate of diffusion of hydrogen, R 1  28.7cm 3s 1

Rate of diffusion of another gas, R 2  7.2cm3s 1

From Graham’s Law, we have:
R1 M2

R2 M1
Where,
M1 is the molecular mass of hydrogen=2.020g
M2 is the unknown gas’s molecular mass
2
R 
2
 28.27 
 M2  M1  1   2.02    32.09g
 2
R  7.2 
Since 32g is the molecular mass, the unknown gas is oxygen.

13. Gas in equilibrium will have uniform density and pressure throughout its
volume A gas column under gravity, for example, does not have a uniform
density (and pressure). The density decreases with height. The precise
dependence is given by the law of atmospheres
n 2  n1 exp  mg  h 2  h1  / kBT 

Where n2 ,n1 is number density at heights h2 ,h1 respectively.

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The sedimentation equilibrium,
n 2  n1 exp  mgN4     '  h 2  h1  / RT 

Where  is the density of the suspended particle, and  ' that of the
surrounding medium. ( NA is Avagadro’s number, and R the universal gas
constant)
(Hint: Apparent weight can be found by using Archimedes principle)
Ans:
According to the law of atmosphere, we have:
n 2  n1 exp  mg  h 2  h1  / kBT  ....(i)

n 2 ,n1 is number density at heights h 2 ,h1 respectively.

The weight of the particle in the gas column is mg
Density of the medium=  '
Density of the suspended particle = 
Mass of one suspended particle = m'
Mass of the medium displaced = m
Volume of a suspended particle= V
The weight of the suspended particle is given from Archimedes’ principle as:
Displaced medium’s weight-Suspended particle’s weight = mg  m'g
 mg  m'g
m
 mg  V 'g  mg    'g

 ' 
mg 1   ...... ii 
 
Gas constant, R  k B N
R
kB  .....(iii)
N
substituting in the equations we get:

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n 2  n1 exp  mg  h 2  h1  / k BT 
  '  N
 n1 exp  mg 1    h 2  h1  
   RT 

 N 
 n1 exp  mg     ' h 2  h1 
 RT 

14. Observe the below table showing the densities of some solids and liquids.
Determine the size of their atoms:
Substance Atomic Mass (u) Density ( 103 Kgm 3 )
Carbon (diamond) 12.01 2.22
Gold 197.00 19.32
Nitrogen (liquid) 14.01 1.00
Lithium 6.94 0.53
Fluorine (liquid) 19.00 1.14

[Hint: Atoms are tightly packed in a solid or liquid phase. Use the known
value of Avogadro’s number. You shouldn’t take the actual numbers you
obtain for various atomic sizes too literally. Due to the crudeness of the tight
packing approximation, the results only indicate that atomic sizes are in the
0
range of a few A ].
Ans:
Substance Radius (Å)
Carbon (diamond) 1.29
Gold 1.59
Nitrogen (liquid) 1.77
Lithium 1.73
Fluorine (liquid) 1.88

Atomic mass of a substance=M

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Density of the substance= 
Avogadro’s number  N  6.023  1023
4
Volume of each atom  r 3
3
4
Volume of N number of molecules  r 3 N .....(i)
3
M
Volume of one mole of a substance  ....(ii)

4 3 M
r N 
3 

3M
r  3
4N
For Carbon:
M  12.01  103 kg
  2.22  103 kgm 3
Radius is,
1
 3  12.01 10 3 3 
r   23 
 1.29A
 4  2.22  10 3
 6.023  10 

For gold:
M  197.00  103 kg
  19.32  103 kgm 3
Radius is,
1
 3  197  103
 3
r   23 
 1.59A
 4  19.32  103
 6.023  10 

For liquid nitrogen:

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M  14.01  103 kg
  1.00  103 kgm 3
Radius is,
1
 3  14.01 103 3 
r   23 
 1.77A
 4  1.00  103
 6.023  10 
For lithium:
M  6.94  103 kg
  0.53  103 kgm 3
Radius is,
1
 3  6.94  103 3
r   23 
 1.73A
 4  0.53  103
 6.023  10 

For liquid fluorine:

M  19.00  103 kg
  1.14  103 kgm 3
Radius is,
1
 3  19  103 3
r   23 
 1.88A
 4 1.14  10  6.023  10 
3

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