What happens when gas is heated?

[tigerwoods99]

Homework Statement

What happens when gas is heated?

Is all of the absorbed energy converted to kinetic energy?
or is some of the absorbed energy converted into potential and some into kinetic energy?

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

My teacher said the correct answer is that some of the absorbed energy is converted into potential energy, and some of the energy is converted into kinetic energy. However, I think that all of the energy is converted into kinetic energy.

 

[zorro]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internal_energy

 

[tigerwoods99]

so it adds potential energy as well?

 

[zorro]

Yes it does

 

[Borek]

I wonder if the question is clear. I don't see potential energy in heated helium (at least before it gets hot enough to excite to substantial degree), I see potential energy in heated ammonia (vibrations).

 

[zorro]

Yes you are right. Potential energy is not there in monoatomic gases (ideal) as there are only 3 degrees of freedom which are for its translational motion. I forgot about that.