13.5: Average Kinetic Energy and Temperature (2024)

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    13.5: Average Kinetic Energy and Temperature (1)

    How much energy does it take to hit a baseball?

    Kineticenergyis theenergyof motion. Any object that is moving possesses kinetic energy. Baseball involves a great deal of kinetic energy. The pitcher throws a ball, imparting kinetic energy to the ball. When the batter swings, the motion of swinging creates kinetic energy in the bat. The collision of the bat with the ball changes the direction and speed of the ball, with the idea of kinetic energy being involved again.

    Kinetic Energy and Temperature

    As stated in the kinetic-molecular theory, the temperature of a substance is related to the average kinetic energy of the particles of that substance. When a substance is heated, some of the absorbed energy is stored within the particles, while some of the energy increases the motion of the particles. This is registered as an increase in the temperature of the substance.

    Average Kinetic Energy

    At any given temperature, not all of the particles of a sample of matter have the same kinetic energy. Instead, the particles display a wide range of kinetic energies. Most of the particles have a kinetic energy near the middle of the range. However, a small number of particles have kinetic energies a great deal lower or a great deal higher than the average (see figure below).

    13.5: Average Kinetic Energy and Temperature (2)

    The blue curve in the figure above is for a sample of matter at a relatively low temperature, while the red curve is for a sample at a relatively high temperature. In both cases, most of the particles have intermediate kinetic energies, close to the average. Notice that as the temperature increases, the range of kinetic energies increases and the distribution curve "flattens out". At a given temperature, the particles of any substance have the same average kinetic energy.

    Absolute Zero

    As a sample of matter is continually cooled, the average kinetic energy of its particles decreases. Eventually, one would expect the particles to stop moving completely. Absolute zero is the temperature at which the motion of particles theoretically ceases. Absolute zero has never been attained in the laboratory, but temperatures on the order of \(1 \times 10^{-10} \: \text{K}\) have been achieved. The Kelvin temperature scale is the scale that is based on molecular motion, and so absolute zero is also called \(0 \: \text{K}\). The Kelvin temperature of a substance is directly proportional to the average kinetic energy of the particles of the substance. For example, the particles in a sample of hydrogen gas at \(200 \: \text{K}\) have twice the average kinetic energy as the particles in a hydrogen sample at \(100 \: \text{K}\).

    13.5: Average Kinetic Energy and Temperature (3)

    Summary

    • Kinetic energy is the energy of motion.
    • At a given temperature, individual particles of a substance have a range of kinetic energies.
    • The motion of particles theoretically ceases at absolute zero.

    Review

    1. What is kinetic energy?
    2. If the temperature increases, will particles move faster or slowerthanthey would at a lower temperature?
    3. What is absolute zero?
    13.5: Average Kinetic Energy and Temperature (2024)

    FAQs

    What happens to the temperature and the average kinetic energy of the system? ›

    RELATION BETWEEN AVERAGE KINETIC ENERGY AND TEMPERATURE:

    The temperature of a substance is directly proportional to the average kinetic energy of the substance particles. Because the mass of these particles is constant, the particles must move faster as the temperature rises.

    What is the average kinetic energy of particles and their temperature? ›

    The Kelvin temperature of a substance is directly proportional to the average kinetic energy of the particles of the substance. For example, the particles in a sample of hydrogen gas at 200K have twice the average kinetic energy as the particles in a hydrogen sample at 100K.

    Is kinetic energy the average temperature? ›

    To sum up, temperature represents the average kinetic energy of the particles of substance.

    How to find kinetic energy? ›

    Kinetic energy is directly proportional to the mass of the object and to the square of its velocity: K.E. = 1/2 m v2. If the mass has units of kilograms and the velocity of meters per second, the kinetic energy has units of kilograms-meters squared per second squared.

    What is an example of average kinetic energy? ›

    The Kelvin temperature of a substance is directly proportional to the average kinetic energy of the particles of the substance. For example, the particles in a sample of hydrogen gas at 200 K have twice the average kinetic energy as the particles in a hydrogen sample at 100 K.

    How is temperature related to kinetic energy? ›

    When the temperature of an object increases, the average kinetic energy of its particles increases. When the average kinetic energy of its particles increases, the object's thermal energy increases. Therefore, the thermal energy of an object increases as its temperature increases.

    What is the formula for kinetic energy to heat energy? ›

    Question: The formula for converting between kinetic energy and thermal energy is 1/2mv2 = mC AT.

    What is the average kinetic energy of an object? ›

    Answer and Explanation: The measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in an object is called the temperature. In fact, constituent particles of a substance are constantly colliding and sharing energy such that the instantaneous energies of the particles are different.

    What happens to the average kinetic energy of a substance when it is heated? ›

    With the supply of heat, the kinetic energy increases, and they start moving more vigorously. The average energy or kinetic energy of an object's particles increases as its temperature rises.

    What is the difference between kinetic energy and average kinetic energy? ›

    Total kinetic energy refers to the kinetic energy of the total number of moles of gas molecules whereas, average kinetic energy is the kinetic energy possessed by the maximum number of molecules.

    Why is temperature an average of the kinetic energy of the atoms in a substance? ›

    The slower the molecules move, the lower the kinetic energy, and the lower the temperature. But at any temperature, the molecules don't all move at the same speed, so temperature is actually a measure of the average kinetic energy of the molecules of a substance.

    How does the temperature affect the average kinetic? ›

    Flexi Says: The average kinetic energy of gas particles is dependent upon the temperature of the gas. As the temperature of a sample of gas is decreased, the speed and kinetic energy of the particles also decrease.

    What is the average kinetic energy of a gas at room temperature? ›

    At standard temperature (273.15 K), the kinetic energy can also be obtained: per mole: 3406 J. per molecule: 5.65 zJ = 35.2 meV.

    Does temperature measure average kinetic energy or total kinetic energy? ›

    Heat and temperature are not the same thing. Heat energy is the total kinetic energy of the atoms of a substance. Temperature is the average kinetic energy of the atoms of a substance.

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