# Thermodynamic Homework Problem Check

1. Sep 29, 2009

### fallen186

Can you check over my answers to see if my reasoning is correct?

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
#3) "Yesterday I woke up and it was 20°F in my bedroom," said Mert to his old friend Mort. "That's nothing," replied Mort. "My room was -5.0°C." Who had the colder room, Mert or Mort?

2. Relevant equations
$$t_{F} = \frac{9}{5}*t_{c} + 32°F$$

3. The attempt at a solution
Mort's -5.0°C Room conversion:
$$t_{F} = \frac{9}{5}*t_{c} + 32°F$$

$$t_{F} = \frac{9}{5}*(-5.0C) + 32°F$$

$$t_{F} = -9C + 32°F$$

$$t_{F} = 23°F$$

Mort = 23°F
Mert = 20°F

Mert has the colder room.

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
#7) If a vessel contains equal amounts, by mass, of helium and argon, which of the following are true?
(a) The partial pressure exerted by each of the two gases on the walls of the container is the same
(b) The average speed of a helium atom is the same as that of an argon atom.
(c) The number of helium atoms and argon atoms in the vessel are equal.
(d) None of the above.

2. Relevant equations
(a) PV=nRT

3. The attempt at a solution
(a) False PV = nRT since V, R, and T are the same then what really matters is the relationship between P and n. If n is greater than P increases as well (direct relationship). Since both gases are the same by mass that means there is more moles of helium due to its small molar mass. Helium thus has more partial pressure than argon.
(b) True The equation $$v_{rms} = \sqrt_{\frac{3kT}{m}}$$. Since helium and argon have the same mass their speeds are the same.
(c) False . since they're are equal by mass and have different molar masses they have different amount of moles and different amount of atoms.
(d) False. It's false because b is true

Question about the rms speed of molecules.

Book explanation:
For part b of the previous question. If i used
$$\sqrt_{\frac{3kT}{m}}$$ then I get the same speed but if i use

$$\sqrt_{\frac{3RT}{M}}$$ then i get a different speed.

Can someone help me explain this?
1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

2. Relevant equations

3. The attempt at a solution

2. Sep 29, 2009

### Delphi51

Surely both m and M are different for Helium and Argon.
Helium has a molar mass of 4 g/mol and a molecular mass of 4*1.67*10^-27 kg.
Argon has a molar mass of 40 g/mol and a molecular mass of 40*1.67*10^-27 kg

3. Sep 29, 2009

### fallen186

Thanks. This helps a lot.