Fnding the rms speed of hydrogen

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on calculating the root-mean-square (rms) speed of hydrogen molecules based on the known rms speed of nitrogen at 493 m/s. The user initially calculates the temperature using nitrogen's molecular mass but arrives at an incorrect rms speed for hydrogen of 340.43 m/s. The error is identified as stemming from not accounting for the lighter atomic mass of hydrogen, which is 14 times less than nitrogen. Consequently, the correct rms speed for hydrogen should be 1840 m/s, as it is √14 times larger than that of nitrogen. This highlights the importance of accurately considering molecular weights in such calculations.
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Homework Statement



The rms speed of nitrogen molecules in air at some temperature is 493 m/s. What is the rms speed of hydrogen molecules in air at the same temperature?



Homework Equations



Vrms


The Attempt at a Solution

 
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Finding the rms speed of hydrogen

Homework Statement



The rms speed of nitrogen molecules in air at some temperature is 493 m/s. What is the rms speed of hydrogen molecules in air at some temperature?


Homework Equations



root-mean-square speedvrms= \sqrt{v<sup>2</sup>}=\sqrt{\frac{3kT}{m}}



The Attempt at a Solution



mnitrogen=\frac{28.0 g}{6.02 X 10<sup>23</sup>}=4.65 X 10-26

mhydrogen=\frac{2.0 g}{6.02 X 10<sup>23</sup>}= 3.32 X 10-27

493= \sqrt{\frac{(3)(1.38 X 10<sup>-23</sup>)(T)}{4.65 X 10<sup>-26</sup>}}
T= 233 K

Vrms of hydrogen= \sqrt{\frac{(3)(1.38 X 10<sup>-23</sup>(T)}{3.32 X 10<sup>-27</sup>}}=340.43 m/s

The answer is actually 1840 m/s.

What did I do wrong?
 
Wow, all that work and it didn't come out right!
Better to just think for a bit. The atomic mass for the H2 is lighter by a factor of 14.
So the 3kT/m will be 14 times larger for the hydrogen. And its square root will be sqrt(14) times larger.
 
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