Question

Suppose a container is evacuated to leave just one another molecule of a gas in it. Let $v_{mp}$ and $v_{av}$ represent the most probable speed and the average speed of the gas, then

• A. $v_{mp}>v_{av}$
• B. $v_{mp}<v_{av}$
• C. $v_{mp}=v_{av}$
• D. none of these

Answer 1

The correct option is C $v_{mp}=v_{av}$

With a single particle in a container there would be meaningless to talk about average or most probable speed. As average and most probable speed of a molecule is same.

Hence, the answer is $v_{mp}=v_{av}.$