Kinetic Theory

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Question : 7
Total: 14
Estimate the average thermal energy of a helium atom at (i) room temperature (27°C), (ii) the temperature on the surface of the Sun (6000 K), (iii) the temperature of 10 million kelvin (the typical core temperature in case of a star).
Solution:  
The average kinetic energy of the gas at a temperature T
E=
3
2
k
T

where k=1.38×1023JK1
T = Temperature in kelvin
(i) T=27°C=27+273 =300K
E=
3
2
×1.38
×1023
×300
=6.21×1021J
(ii) T=6000K
E=
3
2
×1.38
×1023
×6000
=1.242×1019J
(iii) T=10×106K=107K
E=
3
2
×1.38
×1023
×107
=2.07×1016J
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