Physics: Principles with Applications (7th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0-32162-592-7
ISBN 13: 978-0-32162-592-2

Chapter 13 - Temperature and Kinetic Theory - Misconceptual Questions - Page 385: 10

Answer

Choice A.

Work Step by Step

All the particles are in thermal equilibrium, i.e., at the same temperature. This means their average molecular kinetic energies will be the same. A helium atom has less mass than an oxygen molecule, so to have the same average KE, helium atoms must be moving faster on average.
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