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A-LevelPhysicsIdeal gases9702/42 · May/June 2020 · Q28 Marks

A square box of volume V contains N molecules of an ideal gas. Each molecule has mass m. Using the kinetic theory of ideal gases, it can be shown that, if all the molecules are moving with speed v at right angles to one face of the box, the pressure p exerted on the face of the box is given by the expression pV = Nmv². This expression leads to the formula p = (1/3)ρ(c²) for the pressure p of an ideal gas, where ρ is the density of the gas and ⟨c²⟩ is the mean-square speed of the molecules. An ideal gas has volume, pressure and temperature as shown in Fig. 2.1. The mass of the gas is 20.7 g. [Figure 2.1]

  1. (a)Explain how each of the following terms in equation 2 is derived from equation 1: ρ: (1/3): ⟨c²⟩:[4]
  2. (b)Calculate the mass of one molecule of the gas.[4]

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Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2020). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

  1. [1] ρ: Nm / V
  2. [1] (1/3): molecules move in three dimensions (not one)
  3. [1] so 1/3 in any (one) direction
  4. [1] ⟨c²⟩: molecules have different speeds so take average
  5. [1] of (speed)²
  6. [1] pV = NkT
  7. [1] N = (3.0 × 10⁵ × 6.0 × 10⁻³) / (1.38 × 10⁻²³ × 290)
  8. [1] = 4.5 x 10²³
  9. [1] mass = 20.7 / (4.5 × 10²³)
  10. [1] = 4.6 × 10⁻²³ g

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About this question

Topic
Ideal gases, A-Level Physics (syllabus 9702). Structured question, 8 marks.
Source
A-Level Physics, May/June 2020 Paper 4 Variant 2, question 2.

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