Answer: Becomes broader and shifts to higher speeds, with the peak height decreasing.
- A Becomes narrower and shifts to lower speeds as temperature is raised
- B Becomes broader and shifts to higher speeds, with the peak height decreasing
- C Remains exactly the same shape regardless of any change in temperature
- D Becomes a perfect spike at one single speed as temperature increases
Correct answer: B. Becomes broader and shifts to higher speeds, with the peak height decreasing
Explanation: As temperature increases, the Maxwell-Boltzmann speed distribution broadens and its peak shifts toward higher speeds, while the peak height decreases since the area under the curve (total probability) stays equal to 1.
Not all gas molecules move at the same speed - the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution shows the spread, with the most probable speed vp slightly less than the average vavg, which is slightly less than the root-mean-square speed vrms used in the pressure formula.
Concept context
Kinetic theory of gases connects molecular motion to pressure and temperature, explaining gas laws, specific heats, and molecular speeds.