Question

Specific heat capacity of diatomic gas at constant volume:

• A. \(\frac{5}{2} R\)
• B. \(R\)
• C. \(\frac{3}{2} R\)
• D. \(\frac{7}{2} R\)

Hint:

The specific heat capacity of a diatomic gas at constant volume is \(\frac{5}{2} R\), which is higher than that of monatomic gases, due to additional rotational and vibrational modes.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

For an ideal diatomic gas, the specific heat capacity at constant volume (\(C_V\)) is given by: \[ C_V = \frac{5}{2} R \] Where: - \(R\) is the universal gas constant. This result is derived from the degrees of freedom of the diatomic gas molecules. A diatomic gas has translational, rotational, and vibrational degrees of freedom, and for an ideal gas, the specific heat at constant volume is based on the energy associated with these degrees of freedom. Thus, the specific heat capacity of a diatomic gas at constant volume is \(\frac{5}{2} R\).