University Physics with Modern Physics (14th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321973615
ISBN 13: 978-0-32197-361-0

Chapter 18 - Thermal Properties of Matter - Problems - Discussion Questions - Page 609: Q18.14

Answer

No, the temperature is the same.

Work Step by Step

The relationship cited, equation 18.14, between temperature and average kinetic energy is true only when velocities are measured in the rest frame of the gas, where the average velocity is zero. The derivation of the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution assumes that the movement of the gas molecules is "random", i.e., that there is no preferred direction. The moving container “biases” the gas molecule velocities and it would be incorrect for that observer to calculate the temperature based on average kinetic energy.
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