Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

The ideal gas model assumes that molecules are particles in random motion. Pressure is exerted on the walls of a container via many individual collisions. Say that two containers A and B have a common wall, and the temperature in A is twice as large as the temperature in B. Consider a molecule in container A colliding with the common wall, which of the following statements is true about this molecule?
(a) The collision will result in a net transfer of energy (heat) from A to B and the thermal energy of the particle decreases.
(b) The collision will result in a net transfer of energy (heat) from B to A and the thermal energy of the particle increases.
(c) The collisions in ideal gases are always elastic, so the particle has the same kinetic energy before and after the collision.
(d) The collisions in ideal gases are always elastic, so the more collisions the particle experiences, the more kinetic energy will be acquired by the particle.
(e) The average thermal energy of the particle in container A is half the thermal energy of the particles in container B.

Hello Seth,

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Thank you.