Physics · Textbook solutions
Kinetic Theory of Gases and Radiation
Every solved example, exercise, and miscellaneous question, in the order the textbook teaches them. Plus every board question asked from this chapter. · 42 questions
3. Kinetic Theory of Gases and Radiation — worked examples
9 q
Solved Examples
Worked · 9
- Solved Ex.3.1Obtain the mean free path of nitrogen molecule at and 1.0 atm pressure. The molecular diameter of nitrogen is 324 pm (assume that the gas is ideal).
- Solved Ex.3.2At 300 K, what is the rms speed of Helium atom? [mass of He atom is 4u, kg; J/K]
- Solved Ex.3.3Given the values of the two principal specific heats, cal and cal for the hydrogen gas, find the value of if the universal gas constant J .
- Solved Ex.3.4The difference between the two molar specific heats of a gas is 8000 J . If the ratio of the two specific heats is 1.65, calculate the two molar specific heats.
- Solved Ex.3.5Calculate the value of for solar radiation assuming that surface temperature of Sun is 5800 K . In which part of the electromagnetic spectrum, does this value lie?
- Solved Ex.3.6Calculate the energy radiated in one minute by a blackbody of surface area 200 at .
- Solved Ex.3.7A 60 watt filament lamp loses all its energy by radiation from its surface. The emissivity of the surface is 0.5. The area of the surface is . Find the temperature of the filament .
- Solved Ex.3.8Compare the rate of loss of heat from a metal sphere at with the rate of loss of heat from the same sphere at , if the temperature of the surrounding is .
- Solved Ex.3.9Assuming that the temperature at the surface of the Sun is 6000 K, find out the size of a virtual star (in terms of the size of Sun) whose surface temperature is 3000 K and the power radiated by the virtual star is 25 times the power radiated by the Sun. Treat both, the Sun and virtual star as a blackbody.
Exercises
33 q
Choose the correct option
Practice · 5
- Choose the correct option.Ex Q.1 (i)In an ideal gas, the molecules possess
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- Ex Q.1 (ii)The mean free path of molecules is given by (where is the number of molecules per unit volume and is the diameter of the molecules)
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- Ex Q.1 (iii)If pressure of an ideal gas is decreased by 10% isothermally, then its volume will
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- Ex Q.1 (iv)If and , then the value of is
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- Ex Q.1 (v)The ratio of emissive power of a perfect blackbody at and is
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Answer in brief
Practice · 5
- Answer in brief.Ex Q.2 (i)What will happen to the mean square speed of the molecules of a gas if the temperature of the gas increases?
- Ex Q.2 (ii)On what factors do the degrees of freedom depend?
- Ex Q.2 (iii)Write ideal gas equation for a mass of 7 g of nitrogen gas.
- Ex Q.2 (iv)What is an ideal gas? Does an ideal gas exist in practice?
- Ex Q.2 (v)Define athermanous substances and diathermanous substances.
Solve the following
Practice · 23
- Ex Q.3When a gas is heated its temperature increases. Explain this phenomenon based on kinetic theory of gases.
- Ex Q.4Explain, on the basis of kinetic theory, how the pressure of gas changes if its volume is reduced at constant temperature.
- Ex Q.5Mention the conditions under which a real gas obeys ideal gas equation.
- Ex Q.6State the law of equipartition of energy and hence calculate molar specific heat of mono- and di-atomic gases at constant volume and constant pressure.
- Ex Q.7What is a perfect blackbody? How can it be realized in practice?
- Ex Q.8State (i) Stefan-Boltzmann law and (ii) Wein's displacement law.
- Ex Q.9Explain spectral distribution of blackbody radiation.
- Ex Q.10State and prove Kirchoff's law of heat radiation.
- Ex Q.11Calculate the ratio of mean square speeds of molecules of a gas at 30 K and 120 K.
- Ex Q.12Two vessels A and B are filled with same gas where volume, temperature and pressure in vessel A is twice the volume, temperature and pressure in vessel B. Calculate the ratio of number of molecules of gas in vessel A to that in vessel B.
- Ex Q.13A gas in a cylinder is at pressure . If the masses of all the molecules are made one third of their original value and their speeds are doubled, then find the resultant pressure.
- Ex Q.14Show that rms velocity of an oxygen molecule is times that of a sulfur dioxide molecule at S.T.P.
- Ex Q.15At what temperature will oxygen molecules have same rms speed as helium molecules at S.T.P.? (Molecular masses of oxygen and helium are 32 and 4 respectively)
- Ex Q.16Compare the rms speed of hydrogen molecules at with rms speed of oxygen molecules at given that molecular masses of hydrogen and oxygen are 2 and 32 respectively.
- Ex Q.17Find kinetic energy of 5000 cc of a gas at S.T.P. given standard pressure is .
- Ex Q.18Calculate the average molecular kinetic energy (i) per kmol (ii) per kg (iii) per molecule of oxygen at , given that molecular weight of oxygen is 32, is 8.31 J and Avogadro's number is molecules .
- Ex Q.19Calculate the energy radiated in one minute by a blackbody of surface area 100 when it is maintained at . (Take Stefen's constant )
- Ex Q.20Energy is emitted from a hole in an electric furnace at the rate of 20 W, when the temperature of the furnace is . What is the area of the hole? (Take Stefan's constant to be )
- Ex Q.21The emissive power of a sphere of area 0.02 is 0.5 kcal . What is the amount of heat radiated by the spherical surface in 20 second?
- Ex Q.22Compare the rates of emission of heat by a blackbody maintained at and at , if the blackbodies are surrounded by an enclosure (black) at . What would be the ratio of their rates of loss of heat?
- Ex Q.23Earth's mean temperature can be assumed to be 280 K. How will the curve of blackbody radiation look like for this temperature? Find out . In which part of the electromagnetic spectrum, does this value lie? (Take Wien's constant )
- Ex Q.24A small-blackened solid copper sphere of radius 2.5 cm is placed in an evacuated chamber. The temperature of the chamber is maintained at . At what rate energy must be supplied to the copper sphere to maintain its temperature at ? (Take Stefan's constant to be , and treat the sphere as a blackbody.)
- Ex Q.25Find the temperature of a blackbody if its spectrum has a peak at (a) nm (visible), (b) cm (microwave region) and (c) m (short radio waves) (Take Wien's constant ).
What the board has asked from this chapter
Questions per paper · 16 papers · 2016 to 2026
2016: 3 questions per paper. 2017: 3 questions per paper. 2018: 3 questions per paper. 2019: 2 questions per paper. 2020: 2 questions per paper. 2022: 3 questions per paper. 2023: 1.5 questions per paper. 2024: 2 questions per paper. 2025: 2.3 questions per paper. 2026: 3 questions per paper
June 2026
3 q
- Q. 1(ii)For a monoatomic gas enclosed in a container at a constant temperature has degrees of freedom
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Law of Equipartition of Energy and Degrees of Freedom - Q. 11Calculate the value of for solar radiation assuming the temperature on the surface of the sun is 5800 K. [ Wien's constant m.k. ]Spectral Distribution and Wien's Displacement Law
- Q. 27Derive an expression for pressure exerted by a gas on the basis of kinetic theory of gases.Mean Free Path and Pressure of an Ideal Gas
February 2026
3 q
- Q. 1(ii)In an ideal gas, molecules possess _____.
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Behaviour of Gases, Ideal and Real Gas - Q. 13Calculate the temperature at which the average kinetic energy of a molecule of a gas will be same as that of an electron accelerated through 1 volt. [ Given: J/k, C ]RMS Speed and Interpretation of Temperature
- Q. 29Derive the relation between coefficient of absorption, coefficient of reflection and coefficient of transmission. Compare the r.m.s. speed of hydrogen molecule at 127°C with r.m.s. speed of oxygen molecule at 27°C, given that molecular masses of hydrogen and oxygen are 2 and 32 respectively.Absorption, Reflection and Transmission of Heat Radiation
June 2025
3 q
- Q. 1(ix)If pressure of gas contained in a closed vessel is increased by 0.4% when heated by 1°C, its initial temperature must be _____.
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Behaviour of Gases, Ideal and Real Gas - Answer the following questions :Q. 2(iii)What is the coefficient of transmission for athermanous materials?Absorption, Reflection and Transmission of Heat Radiation
- Q. 25A 120 watt filament lamp loses all its energy by radiation from its surface. The emissivity of the surface is 0.6. The area of the surface is . Calculate the temperature of the filament.Perfect Blackbody and Emissivity
February 2025
4 q
- Answer the following questions :Q. 2(viii)Find kinetic energy of 1 litre of an ideal gas at S.T.P.RMS Speed and Interpretation of Temperature
- Q. 1(iii)Which of the following materials belongs to diathermanous substance?
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Absorption, Reflection and Transmission of Heat Radiation - Q. 8Calculate the energy radiated in one minute by a perfectly black body of surface area when it is maintained at 127°C.Perfect Blackbody and Emissivity
- Q. 19State and prove Kirchhoff's law of heat radiation.Kirchhoff's Law of Heat Radiation
July 2024
4 q
- Q. 1(iii)If coefficient of emission is 'e' for a perfectly black body and coefficient of transmission is 't' then ____.
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Absorption, Reflection and Transmission of Heat Radiation - Q. 1(viii)The ratio of emissive power of a perfect black body at 927ºC and 327ºC is ____.
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Perfect Blackbody and Emissivity - Q. 3Show that average energy per molecule is directly proportional to the absolute temperature 'T' of the gas.RMS Speed and Interpretation of Temperature
- Q. 29Deduce an expression for molar specific heat of a monoatomic gas at constant volume. Find kinetic energy of 4000 cc of a gas at S.T.P. [ Given : Standard pressure is ]Specific Heat Capacity and Mayer's Relation
February 2024
2 q
- Q. 30Draw a neat labelled diagram of Ferry's perfectly black body. Compare the rms speed of hydrogen molecules at 227°C with rms speed of oxygen molecule at 127°C. Given that molecular masses of hydrogen and oxygen are 2 and 32 respectively.RMS Speed and Interpretation of Temperature
- Q. 25Prove the Mayer's relation :Specific Heat Capacity and Mayer's Relation
February 2023
3 q
- Q. 27On the basis of kinetic theory of gases obtain an expression for pressure exerted by gas molecules enclosed in a container on its walls.Mean Free Path and Pressure of an Ideal Gas
- Q. 1(i)If 'n' is the number of molecules per unit volume and 'd' is the diameter of the molecules, the mean free path of molecules is
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Mean Free Path and Pressure of an Ideal Gas - Q. 12Compare the rate of loss of heat from a metal sphere at 827°C with rate of loss of heat from the same at 427°C, if the temperature of surrounding is 27°C.Perfect Blackbody and Emissivity
March 2022
3 q
- Q. 27Derive an expression for a pressure exerted by a gas on the basis of kinetic theory of gases.Mean Free Path and Pressure of an Ideal Gas
- Q. 1(v)The root mean square speed of the molecules of a gas is proportional to ________. [T = Absolute temperature of gas].
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RMS Speed and Interpretation of Temperature - Q. 14The difference between the two molar specific heats of a gas is 9000 J/kg K. If the ratio of the two specific heats is 1.5, calculate the two molar specific heats.Specific Heat Capacity and Mayer's Relation
February 2020
2 q
- Q. 7Deduce Boyle's law using the expression for pressure exerted by the gas.Mean Free Path and Pressure of an Ideal Gas
- Q. 21Explain energy distribution spectrum of a black body radiation in terms of wavelength.Spectral Distribution and Wien's Displacement Law
March 2019
2 q
- Q. 2The specific heat capacity of water is ________.
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Specific Heat Capacity and Mayer's Relation - Q. 22What is perfectly black body? Explain Ferry's black body.Perfect Blackbody and Emissivity
March 2018
3 q
- Q. 2(ii)State any 'four' assumptions of kinetic theory of gases.Mean Free Path and Pressure of an Ideal Gas
- Q. 1(vi)The kinetic energy per molecule of a gas at temperature T is ________.
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RMS Speed and Interpretation of Temperature - Q. 4. BA body cools from to in 5 minutes and to in the next 5 minutes. Calculate the temperature of the surroundings.Perfect Blackbody and Emissivity
March 2017
3 q
- Q. 2(ii)Prove that root mean square velocity of gas molecule is directly proportional to the square root of its absolute temperature.RMS Speed and Interpretation of Temperature
- Q. 1(vii)Find the wavelength at which a black body radiates maximum energy, if its temperature is . (Wein's constant ).
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Spectral Distribution and Wien's Displacement Law - Q. 2(viii)A body cools at the rate of when it is above the surroundings. Calculate the rate of cooling when it is above the same surroundings.Perfect Blackbody and Emissivity
March 2016
3 q
- Q. 2(vi)For polyatomic molecules having 'f' vibrational modes, the ratio of two specific heats, is ________.
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Law of Equipartition of Energy and Degrees of Freedom - Q. 1(iv)Define 'emissive power' and 'coefficient of emission of a body'.Perfect Blackbody and Emissivity
- Q. 3A metal sphere cools at the rate of when its temperature is . Find its rate of cooling at if the temperature of surroundings is .Perfect Blackbody and Emissivity
The 10 board questions to practise first
The questions the board asked again come first, most asked first. Each one says how often and when.
Question 1
Asked 3 times: Mar 2022, Feb 2023, Jun 2026
Q. 27Derive an expression for pressure exerted by a gas on the basis of kinetic theory of gases.Question 2
This type asked 4 times: Feb 2023, Jul 2024, Feb 2025, Jun 2025. This one: Jun 2025
Q. 25A 120 watt filament lamp loses all its energy by radiation from its surface. The emissivity of the surface is 0.6. The area of the surface is . Calculate the temperature of the filament.Question 3
This type asked 3 times: Mar 2018, Jul 2024, Feb 2026. This one: Feb 2026
Q. 13Calculate the temperature at which the average kinetic energy of a molecule of a gas will be same as that of an electron accelerated through 1 volt. [ Given: J/k, C ]Question 4
This type asked 3 times: Jul 2024, Feb 2025, Jun 2025. This one: Jun 2025
Answer the following questions :Q. 2(iii)What is the coefficient of transmission for athermanous materials?Question 5
This type asked 3 times: Mar 2016, Mar 2017, Mar 2018. This one: Mar 2018
Q. 4. BA body cools from to in 5 minutes and to in the next 5 minutes. Calculate the temperature of the surroundings.Question 6
This type asked 2 times: Mar 2017, Jun 2026. This one: Jun 2026
Q. 11Calculate the value of for solar radiation assuming the temperature on the surface of the sun is 5800 K. [ Wien's constant m.k. ]Question 7
This type asked 2 times: Mar 2016, Jun 2026. This one: Jun 2026
Q. 1(ii)For a monoatomic gas enclosed in a container at a constant temperature has degrees of freedomTap an option to check your answer.
Question 8
This type asked 2 times: Feb 2024, Feb 2026. This one: Feb 2026
Q. 29Derive the relation between coefficient of absorption, coefficient of reflection and coefficient of transmission. Compare the r.m.s. speed of hydrogen molecule at 127°C with r.m.s. speed of oxygen molecule at 27°C, given that molecular masses of hydrogen and oxygen are 2 and 32 respectively.Question 9
This type asked 2 times: Jul 2024, Feb 2025. This one: Feb 2025
Answer the following questions :Q. 2(viii)Find kinetic energy of 1 litre of an ideal gas at S.T.P.Question 10
This type asked 2 times: Mar 2022, Feb 2024. This one: Feb 2024
Q. 25Prove the Mayer's relation :