Question

Given below are two statements:

Statement 1: In a diatomic molecule, the rotational energy at a given temperature obeys Maxwell's distribution.

Statement 2: In a diatomic molecule, the rotational energy at a given temperature equals to translational kinetic energy for each other.

In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:

• A. Both statement 1 and statement 2 are false
• B. Both statement 1 and statement 2 are true
• C. Statement 1 is false but statement 2 is true
• D. Statement 1 is true but statement 2 is false

Answer 1

The correct option is D

Statement 1 is true but statement 2 is false

Answer:(D)

Explanation for correct option:

The translation kinetic energy and rotational kinetic energy both obey Maxwell's distribution independent of each other.

T.K.E of diatomic molecules=$\left(\raisebox{1ex}{$3$}\!\left/ \!\raisebox{-1ex}{$2$}\right.\right)kT[3translationalenergy]$

R.K.E of diatomic molecules=$\left(\raisebox{1ex}{$2$}\!\left/ \!\raisebox{-1ex}{$2$}\right.\right)kT=[2rotationalD.O.F]$

Thus, option (D) is the correct option