Calculating O2 Molecule Velocity at -50C

[ibysaiyan]

Homework Statement

Calculate Velocity of an oxygen molecule at height, where the temperature is -50C.
O2 molecule: 5.4x10^-26 kg

Homework Equations

1/2mC^2=3/2kT

The Attempt at a Solution

=> 1/2 (5.4x10^-26) c^2 = 3/2 (1.38x10^-23) x -(50)
=> c2= 1.035x10^-21
=>c=3.21x10^-11 m/s

ermmi have a feeling that i messed somewhere lol.

 

[Redbelly98]

The Attempt at a Solution

=> 1/2 (5.4x10^-26) c^2 = 3/2 (1.38x10^-23) x -(50)
=> c2= 1.035x10^-21

Try that step again. Also, note that you get a negative value for c², another clue that something is wrong.

 

[ibysaiyan]

OOhh.. i thought iT being a big negative value would be wrong..
is this what i did wrong
-1.035x10^-21/2.7x10^-26=-38.3x10^3m/s
but it can't be square root =? as its negative

 

[Redbelly98]

That's a little better, but yes that negative is still a problem.

If I told you not to use -50 for the temperature, even though the temperature is -50 C, does that help?