6

2 (a) The kinetic theory of gases is based on some simplifying assumptions. For
The molecules of the gas are assumed to behave as hard elastic identical spheres. Examiner’s
State the assumption about ideal gas molecules based on Use

(i) the nature of their movement,

..................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................. [1]

(ii) their volume.

..................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................. [2]

© UCLES 2012 9702/41/M/J/12

 7

(b) A cube of volume V contains N molecules of an ideal gas. Each molecule has a For
component cX of velocity normal to one side S of the cube, as shown in Fig. 2.1. Examiner’s
Use

side S

cx

Fig. 2.1

The pressure p of the gas due to the component cX of velocity is given by the expression

pV = NmcX2

where m is the mass of a molecule.

Explain how the expression leads to the relation

pV = 13 Nm<c 2>

where <c 2> is the mean square speed of the molecules.

[3]

(c) The molecules of an ideal gas have a root-mean-square (r.m.s.) speed of 520 m s–1 at a
temperature of 27 °C.

Calculate the r.m.s. speed of the molecules at a temperature of 100 °C.

r.m.s. speed = ....................................... m s–1 [3]

© UCLES 2012 9702/41/M/J/12 [Turn over
 7

2 In a sample of gas at room temperature, five atoms have the following speeds:

1.32 × 103 m s–1

1.50 × 103 m s–1
1.46 × 103 m s–1
1.28 × 103 m s–1
1.64 × 103 m s–1.

For these five atoms, calculate, to three significant figures,

(a) the mean speed,

mean speed = ................................................. m s–1 [1]

(b) the mean-square speed,

mean-square speed = ................................................ m2 s–2 [2]

(c) the root-mean-square speed.

root-mean-square speed = ................................................. m s–1 [1]

© UCLES 2015 9702/42/M/J/15 [Turn over

 6

2 (a) (i) State what is meant by an ideal gas.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

(ii) State the temperature, in degrees Celsius, of absolute zero.

temperature = .................................................... °C [1]

(b) A sealed vessel contains a mass of 0.0424 kg of an ideal gas at 227 °C.
The pressure of the gas is 1.37 × 105 Pa and the volume of the gas is 0.640 m3.

Calculate:

(i) the number of molecules of the gas in the vessel

number of molecules = ......................................................... [3]

(ii) the mass of one molecule of the gas

mass = .................................................... kg [1]

(iii) the root-mean-square (r.m.s.) speed v of the molecules of the gas.

v = ................................................ m s–1 [3]

© UCLES 2023 9702/42/M/J/23

 7

(c) The gas in (b) is now cooled gradually to absolute zero.

On Fig. 2.1, sketch the variation with thermodynamic temperature T of the r.m.s. speed of the
molecules of the gas.

v
r.m.s. speed

0
0 500
T/K

Fig. 2.1
[2]

[Total: 12]

© UCLES 2023 9702/42/M/J/23 [Turn over

 Akhtar Mahmood (0333-4281759)
M.Sc.(Physics), MCS, MBA-IT, B.Ed.
IDEAL GASES MIS, DCE, D AS/400e(IBM), OCP(PITB)
[email protected]
1. The pressure p of an ideal gas is given by the expression

(a) Explain the meaning of the symbol <c2>.

................................................................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................................................... [2]

(b) The ideal gas has a density of 2.4 kgm–3 at a pressure of 2.0 × 105 Pa and a temperature of 300 K.
(i) Determine the root-mean-square (r.m.s.) speed of the gas atoms at 300 K.

r.m.s. speed = .................................. m s–1 [3]

(ii) Calculate the temperature of the gas for the atoms to have an r.m.s. speed that is twice that calculated
in (i).

temperature = ......................................... K [3]

2. (a) (i) The kinetic theory of gases leads to the equation

Explain the significance of the quantity

………………..................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................................
 Akhtar Mahmood (0333-4281759)
M.Sc.(Physics), MCS, MBA-IT, B.Ed.
IDEAL GASES MIS, DCE, D AS/400e(IBM), OCP(PITB)
[email protected]
(ii) Use the equation to suggest what is meant by the absolute zero of temperature.

..........................................................................................................................................................

………………............................................................................................................................[3]

(b) Two insulated gas cylinders A and B are connected by a tube of negligible volume, as shown in
Figure.

Each cylinder has an internal volume of 2.0 × 10–2m3. Initially, the tap is closed and cylinder A contains
1.2 mol of an ideal gas at a temperature of 37 °C. Cylinder B contains the same ideal gas at pressure 1.2 ×
105 Pa and temperature 37 °C.
(i) Calculate the amount, in mol, of the gas in cylinder B.

amount = ......................................... mol

(ii) The tap is opened and some gas flows from cylinder A to cylinder B. Using the fact that the total
amount of gas is constant, determine the final pressure of the gas in the cylinders.

pressure = ........................................ Pa
[6]
 Akhtar Mahmood (0333-4281759)
M.Sc.(Physics), MCS, MBA-IT, B.Ed.
IDEAL GASES MIS, DCE, D AS/400e(IBM), OCP(PITB)
[email protected]

3. If an object is projected vertically upwards from the surface of a planet at a fast enough speed, it can
escape the planet’s gravitational field. This means that the object can arrive at infinity where it has zero
kinetic energy. The speed that is just enough for this to happen is known as the escape speed.
(a) (i) By equating the kinetic energy of the object at the planet’s surface to its total gain of potential
energy in going to infinity, show that the escape speed v is given by

where R is the radius of the planet and M is its mass.

(ii) Hence show that

where g is the acceleration of free fall at the planet’s surface.

[3]
(b) The mean kinetic energy Ek of an atom of an ideal gas is given by

where k is the Boltzmann constant and T is the thermodynamic temperature.

Using the equation in (a)(ii), estimate the temperature at the Earth’s surface such that helium atoms of
mass 6.6 × 10–27 kg could escape to infinity.
You may assume that helium gas behaves as an ideal gas and that the radius of Earth is 6.4 × 106m.

temperature = ........................................ K [4]

4. (a) Outline an experiment which demonstrates that the molecules in a gas are in perpetual random
motion.

...............................................................................................……...........................................................

...............................................…….........................................................................................................

……...…..................................................................................................……....….................................

................................................................……....………………………………………………………
 Akhtar Mahmood (0333-4281759)
IDEAL GASES M.Sc.(Physics), MCS, MBA-IT, B.Ed.
MIS, DCE, D AS/400e(IBM), OCP(PITB)
[email protected]

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………… [3]

(b) The pressure p of an ideal gas is given by both of the following equations.

(i) Use the equations to show that the average translational kinetic energy of a molecule is proportional
to the temperature T.

[3]

(ii) Calculate the average kinetic energy of a molecule of an ideal gas at a temperature of 27 °C.

kinetic energy = ......................... J [2]

(iii) Explain why the answer to (ii) is independent of the mass of the gas molecules.

.............................................................................................……....……...........................................

.............................................................…….……..............................................................................

..........................……..…..……………………………………………………………………… [2]

(iv) A laboratory contains 2600 mol of air at a temperature of 27 °C. Calculate the total kinetic energy
of all the molecules of air in the laboratory.

kinetic energy = .............................. J [2]

 Akhtar Mahmood (0333-4281759)
IDEAL GASES M.Sc.(Physics), MCS, MBA-IT, B.Ed.
MIS, DCE, D AS/400e(IBM), OCP(PITB)
[email protected]
5.
 Akhtar Mahmood (0333-4281759)
IDEAL GASES M.Sc.(Physics), MCS, MBA-IT, B.Ed.
MIS, DCE, D AS/400e(IBM), OCP(PITB)
[email protected]
6.

{Q. 2/41 & 42 Variant/ June 2014}

 Akhtar Mahmood (0333-4281759)
M.Sc.(Physics), MCS, MBA-IT, B.Ed.
IDEAL GASES MIS, DCE, D AS/400e(IBM), OCP(PITB)
[email protected]
7.
 Akhtar Mahmood (0333-4281759)
M.Sc.(Physics), MCS, MBA-IT, B.Ed.
IDEAL GASES MIS, DCE, D AS/400e(IBM), OCP(PITB)
[email protected]

(c) From Thermal properties of Materials chapter [3]

{Q. 2/41 & 43 Variant/ June 2013}

8.
 Akhtar Mahmood (0333-4281759)
IDEAL GASES M.Sc.(Physics), MCS, MBA-IT, B.Ed.
MIS, DCE, D AS/400e(IBM), OCP(PITB)
[email protected]

{Q. 2/41 & 43 Variant/ June 2016}

9.
 Akhtar Mahmood (0333-4281759)
IDEAL GASES M.Sc.(Physics), MCS, MBA-IT, B.Ed.
MIS, DCE, D AS/400e(IBM), OCP(PITB)
[email protected]

{Q. 2/42 Variant/ June 2016}

Marking Key
Q.1 to Q. 5) To be practiced in class

Q. 6. {Ref.: Q. 2/41 & 42 Variant/ June 2014}

 Akhtar Mahmood (0333-4281759)
M.Sc.(Physics), MCS, MBA-IT, B.Ed.
IDEAL GASES MIS, DCE, D AS/400e(IBM), OCP(PITB)
[email protected]

7. {Ref.: Q. 2/41 & 43 Variant/ June 2013}

8. {Ref.: Q. 2/41 & 43 Variant/ June 2016}

9. {Ref.: Q. 2/42 Variant/ June 2016}

 Akhtar Mahmood (0333-4281759)
IDEAL GASES M.Sc.(Physics), MCS, MBA-IT, B.Ed.
MIS, DCE, D AS/400e(IBM), OCP(PITB)
[email protected]
 6

2 (a) The kinetic theory of gases is based on some simplifying assumptions. For
The molecules of the gas are assumed to behave as hard elastic identical spheres. Examiner’s
State the assumption about ideal gas molecules based on Use

(i) the nature of their movement,

..................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................. [1]

(ii) their volume.

..................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................. [2]

© UCLES 2012 9702/41/M/J/12

 7

(b) A cube of volume V contains N molecules of an ideal gas. Each molecule has a For
component cX of velocity normal to one side S of the cube, as shown in Fig. 2.1. Examiner’s
Use

side S

cx

Fig. 2.1

The pressure p of the gas due to the component cX of velocity is given by the expression

pV = NmcX2

where m is the mass of a molecule.

Explain how the expression leads to the relation

pV = 13 Nm<c 2>

where <c 2> is the mean square speed of the molecules.

[3]

(c) The molecules of an ideal gas have a root-mean-square (r.m.s.) speed of 520 m s–1 at a
temperature of 27 °C.

Calculate the r.m.s. speed of the molecules at a temperature of 100 °C.

r.m.s. speed = ....................................... m s–1 [3]

© UCLES 2012 9702/41/M/J/12 [Turn over
 7

2 In a sample of gas at room temperature, five atoms have the following speeds:

1.32 × 103 m s–1

1.50 × 103 m s–1
1.46 × 103 m s–1
1.28 × 103 m s–1
1.64 × 103 m s–1.

For these five atoms, calculate, to three significant figures,

(a) the mean speed,

mean speed = ................................................. m s–1 [1]

(b) the mean-square speed,

mean-square speed = ................................................ m2 s–2 [2]

(c) the root-mean-square speed.

root-mean-square speed = ................................................. m s–1 [1]

© UCLES 2015 9702/42/M/J/15 [Turn over

 6

2 (a) (i) State what is meant by an ideal gas.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

(ii) State the temperature, in degrees Celsius, of absolute zero.

temperature = .................................................... °C [1]

(b) A sealed vessel contains a mass of 0.0424 kg of an ideal gas at 227 °C.
The pressure of the gas is 1.37 × 105 Pa and the volume of the gas is 0.640 m3.

Calculate:

(i) the number of molecules of the gas in the vessel

number of molecules = ......................................................... [3]

(ii) the mass of one molecule of the gas

mass = .................................................... kg [1]

(iii) the root-mean-square (r.m.s.) speed v of the molecules of the gas.

v = ................................................ m s–1 [3]

© UCLES 2023 9702/42/M/J/23

 7

(c) The gas in (b) is now cooled gradually to absolute zero.

On Fig. 2.1, sketch the variation with thermodynamic temperature T of the r.m.s. speed of the
molecules of the gas.

v
r.m.s. speed

0
0 500
T/K

Fig. 2.1
[2]

[Total: 12]

© UCLES 2023 9702/42/M/J/23 [Turn over

 Akhtar Mahmood (0333-4281759)
M.Sc.(Physics), MCS, MBA-IT, B.Ed.
IDEAL GASES MIS, DCE, D AS/400e(IBM), OCP(PITB)
[email protected]
1. The pressure p of an ideal gas is given by the expression

(a) Explain the meaning of the symbol <c2>.

................................................................................................................................................................

........................................................................................................................................................... [2]

(b) The ideal gas has a density of 2.4 kgm–3 at a pressure of 2.0 × 105 Pa and a temperature of 300 K.
(i) Determine the root-mean-square (r.m.s.) speed of the gas atoms at 300 K.

r.m.s. speed = .................................. m s–1 [3]

(ii) Calculate the temperature of the gas for the atoms to have an r.m.s. speed that is twice that calculated
in (i).

temperature = ......................................... K [3]

2. (a) (i) The kinetic theory of gases leads to the equation

Explain the significance of the quantity

………………..................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................................
 Akhtar Mahmood (0333-4281759)
M.Sc.(Physics), MCS, MBA-IT, B.Ed.
IDEAL GASES MIS, DCE, D AS/400e(IBM), OCP(PITB)
[email protected]
(ii) Use the equation to suggest what is meant by the absolute zero of temperature.

..........................................................................................................................................................

………………............................................................................................................................[3]

(b) Two insulated gas cylinders A and B are connected by a tube of negligible volume, as shown in
Figure.

Each cylinder has an internal volume of 2.0 × 10–2m3. Initially, the tap is closed and cylinder A contains
1.2 mol of an ideal gas at a temperature of 37 °C. Cylinder B contains the same ideal gas at pressure 1.2 ×
105 Pa and temperature 37 °C.
(i) Calculate the amount, in mol, of the gas in cylinder B.

amount = ......................................... mol

(ii) The tap is opened and some gas flows from cylinder A to cylinder B. Using the fact that the total
amount of gas is constant, determine the final pressure of the gas in the cylinders.

pressure = ........................................ Pa
[6]
 Akhtar Mahmood (0333-4281759)
M.Sc.(Physics), MCS, MBA-IT, B.Ed.
IDEAL GASES MIS, DCE, D AS/400e(IBM), OCP(PITB)
[email protected]

3. If an object is projected vertically upwards from the surface of a planet at a fast enough speed, it can
escape the planet’s gravitational field. This means that the object can arrive at infinity where it has zero
kinetic energy. The speed that is just enough for this to happen is known as the escape speed.
(a) (i) By equating the kinetic energy of the object at the planet’s surface to its total gain of potential
energy in going to infinity, show that the escape speed v is given by

where R is the radius of the planet and M is its mass.

(ii) Hence show that

where g is the acceleration of free fall at the planet’s surface.

[3]
(b) The mean kinetic energy Ek of an atom of an ideal gas is given by

where k is the Boltzmann constant and T is the thermodynamic temperature.

Using the equation in (a)(ii), estimate the temperature at the Earth’s surface such that helium atoms of
mass 6.6 × 10–27 kg could escape to infinity.
You may assume that helium gas behaves as an ideal gas and that the radius of Earth is 6.4 × 106m.

temperature = ........................................ K [4]

4. (a) Outline an experiment which demonstrates that the molecules in a gas are in perpetual random
motion.

...............................................................................................……...........................................................

...............................................…….........................................................................................................

……...…..................................................................................................……....….................................

................................................................……....………………………………………………………
 Akhtar Mahmood (0333-4281759)
IDEAL GASES M.Sc.(Physics), MCS, MBA-IT, B.Ed.
MIS, DCE, D AS/400e(IBM), OCP(PITB)
[email protected]

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………… [3]

(b) The pressure p of an ideal gas is given by both of the following equations.

(i) Use the equations to show that the average translational kinetic energy of a molecule is proportional
to the temperature T.

[3]

(ii) Calculate the average kinetic energy of a molecule of an ideal gas at a temperature of 27 °C.

kinetic energy = ......................... J [2]

(iii) Explain why the answer to (ii) is independent of the mass of the gas molecules.

.............................................................................................……....……...........................................

.............................................................…….……..............................................................................

..........................……..…..……………………………………………………………………… [2]

(iv) A laboratory contains 2600 mol of air at a temperature of 27 °C. Calculate the total kinetic energy
of all the molecules of air in the laboratory.

kinetic energy = .............................. J [2]

 Akhtar Mahmood (0333-4281759)
IDEAL GASES M.Sc.(Physics), MCS, MBA-IT, B.Ed.
MIS, DCE, D AS/400e(IBM), OCP(PITB)
[email protected]
5.
 Akhtar Mahmood (0333-4281759)
IDEAL GASES M.Sc.(Physics), MCS, MBA-IT, B.Ed.
MIS, DCE, D AS/400e(IBM), OCP(PITB)
[email protected]
6.

{Q. 2/41 & 42 Variant/ June 2014}

 Akhtar Mahmood (0333-4281759)
M.Sc.(Physics), MCS, MBA-IT, B.Ed.
IDEAL GASES MIS, DCE, D AS/400e(IBM), OCP(PITB)
[email protected]
7.
 Akhtar Mahmood (0333-4281759)
M.Sc.(Physics), MCS, MBA-IT, B.Ed.
IDEAL GASES MIS, DCE, D AS/400e(IBM), OCP(PITB)
[email protected]

(c) From Thermal properties of Materials chapter [3]

{Q. 2/41 & 43 Variant/ June 2013}

8.
 Akhtar Mahmood (0333-4281759)
IDEAL GASES M.Sc.(Physics), MCS, MBA-IT, B.Ed.
MIS, DCE, D AS/400e(IBM), OCP(PITB)
[email protected]

{Q. 2/41 & 43 Variant/ June 2016}

9.
 Akhtar Mahmood (0333-4281759)
IDEAL GASES M.Sc.(Physics), MCS, MBA-IT, B.Ed.
MIS, DCE, D AS/400e(IBM), OCP(PITB)
[email protected]

{Q. 2/42 Variant/ June 2016}

Marking Key
Q.1 to Q. 5) To be practiced in class

Q. 6. {Ref.: Q. 2/41 & 42 Variant/ June 2014}

 Akhtar Mahmood (0333-4281759)
M.Sc.(Physics), MCS, MBA-IT, B.Ed.
IDEAL GASES MIS, DCE, D AS/400e(IBM), OCP(PITB)
[email protected]

7. {Ref.: Q. 2/41 & 43 Variant/ June 2013}

8. {Ref.: Q. 2/41 & 43 Variant/ June 2016}

9. {Ref.: Q. 2/42 Variant/ June 2016}

 Akhtar Mahmood (0333-4281759)
IDEAL GASES M.Sc.(Physics), MCS, MBA-IT, B.Ed.
MIS, DCE, D AS/400e(IBM), OCP(PITB)
[email protected]