Temperature
“A measure of
how rapidly particles, in a sample of matter, move.”
K.E. = 1/2 mm 2 = 3/2 k T
A measure of the average kinetic energy possessed by a collection of particles.
ŘAt a temperature of 72 oF, molecules of oxygen in the air move with an average speed of 482 m/sec.
Now , consider this:
at the same
temperature , (77 oF),
ŘMolecules in a table top,
must possess the
same average kinetic energy,
yet particles of the table top are obviously not “moving” at 482 m/sec.
How would you
reconcile this discrepancy?
