Sure, the simple answer to your question is the number of molecules at a height, in addition to the total kinetic energy at a height, can be used to calculate the average kinetic energy at that height. Do you feel that's the solution?
Peter, I don't know the answer but I do know the right answer centers around the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution if that somehow accounted for gravity. I can tell you you're just not going to get there with PV=nRT. I appreciate your effort...but your solutions are just not correct no matter how...
Klimatos, I definitely believe you're the closest. It's something along those lines. It comes down to a Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution...if gravity were included as a variable. The delta-v definitely occurs...and the average energy should certainly be the same...but those molecules which are...
Peter, if you have an answer, please spell it out for me and show me I'm wrong. I understand your need to give me partial answers so I can figure it out for myself...but I can't see it. I only see your formula which shows how you try to lock temperature with PV=nRT. I can see your confidence...
Yes, I can see how you pointed out the change in pressure vs. height. Sure, an isolated system is fine. I'm just saying that there is no constraint on temperature with PV=nRT. There's nothing to prevent a molecule from working its way to the bottom and picking up kinetic energy or vise versa...
Thanks, Jartsa!
You're the first person here who was able to see (or at least acknowledge) the effect of gravity on the molecules. However keep in mind that if the effect was really there, there would be a potentially useful heat source and heat sink implying free energy. Obviously that can't...
Peter, PV=nRT (and variations) don't constrain temperature. I won't be able to work out any answer based on what you've given me. If you complete your line of reasoning with the change in pressure, I'm confident you'll realize the mistake in your reasoning. I know you genuinely believe you've...
Peter, I can see you believe you've answered my question. I can see you've shown in detail how pressure changes with height given a constant temperature. Keep in mind that your equations don't exclude the possibility that temperature can vary from the top to the bottom. In fact, you could put...
Thanks Peter. The reason I asked is because I would like to know whether the person giving me hints has the answer or not. I don't mind discussing the topic since I'm obviously very interested in the topic...but I just want to make sure that someone trying to 'mentor' me has more answers than...
A little background, I asked this question about the gas-filled tube maybe fifteen years ago on a message board and nobody knew the answer then either. It doesn't appear to be an easy question.
I'm not sure I follow.
It just seems that molecules going upward inside the tube would lose kinetic energy due to gravity and be 'colder' at the top of the tube while gaining kinetic energy due to gravity to be 'warmer' at the bottom of the tube. It would seem, in my mind, that molecules would...
Bystander, I assume you're trying to be helpful but that you don't know the answer either.
No pretenses here--I don't know the answer despite pondering it in depth. This isn't a homework question where I'm looking for hints--it's something I randomly thought about years ago and just can't...
I was actually hoping Bystander could expand upon his own suggestion.
I have a good physics background but I'll admit I don't have the answer to my question. I'm hoping someone can provide a cogent, clear, understandable explanation that even someone as dumb as myself can understand...