MHT CET202613 April 2026Evening ShiftPhysicsKinetic Theory of GasesActual
According to law of equipartition of energy the molar specific heat of a non rigid diatomic gas at constant volume is
Options
- A(9/2) R
- B(5/2) R
- C(3/2) R
- D(7/2) R
Correct answer
D. (7/2) R
Step-by-step solution
For a non-rigid diatomic gas, the degrees of freedom are distributed as follows: Translational degrees of freedom = 3 Rotational degrees of freedom = 2 Vibrational degrees of freedom = 2 (since each vibrational mode contributes to both kinetic and potential energy) Total degrees of freedom f = 3 + 2 + 2 = 7 According to the law of equipartition of energy, the internal energy per mole of the gas is given by: U = f 2 RT = 7 2 RT The molar specific heat at constant volume is: C_v = dU dT = 7 2 R Answer: (7/2) R