Practice Quiz

Praxis II General Science

Category - Physics

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Consider a mixture of nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen, molecules that are commonly found in Earth’s atmosphere. At the same temperature and pressure, which of these molecules is moving the fastest?
  1. Nitrogen
  2. Oxygen
  3. Carbon dioxide
  4. Hydrogen
  5. All of them are moving equally quickly.
Explanation
Answer: D - At a given temperature, each gas molecule contains roughly the same amount of energy. However, because the hydrogen molecule weighs the least, it will be moving the fastest, according to the equation for kinetic energy, E = 1/2mv2. If E is held constant, then if mass is reduced, velocity must increase.
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