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⚛️ Physics  ·  Kinetic Theory  ·  NEET & JEE

An ideal gas is heated at constant volume. The heat supplied increases:

Answer: Only the kinetic energy of molecules (and hence temperature).

  • A Only the intermolecular potential energy, with no change in motion
  • B Only the kinetic energy of molecules (and hence temperature)
  • C Only the pressure directly, with the temperature staying fixed
  • D Neither the temperature nor the pressure of the enclosed gas

Correct answer: B. Only the kinetic energy of molecules (and hence temperature)

Explanation: At constant volume, all heat supplied goes into increasing the internal (kinetic) energy of the gas molecules, raising its temperature, and consequently the pressure rises too (since V constant).

Maxwell-Boltzmann Speed Distributionspeed (v)fraction of moleculesv_pv_avgv_rmsv_p < v_avg < v_rms always, for any gas at any temperature

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.

Read the full Kinetic Theory notes →