Answer: Remains the same.
- A Doubles
- B Becomes half
- C Remains the same
- D Becomes four times
Correct answer: C. Remains the same
Explanation: v<sub>rms</sub> depends only on temperature and molar mass (v<sub>rms</sub> = √(3RT/M)), not on pressure, so it remains unchanged at constant T.
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.