According to the law of equipartition of energy, the number of vibrational modes of a polyatomic gas of constant = CPCV is (CP and CV are the specific heat capacities of the gas at constant pressure and constant volume, respectively):
- 4 + 3 - 1
- 3 + 4 - 1
- 4 - 3 - 1
- 3 - 4 - 1
Answer
(3) 4 - 3 - 1
Solution
Let n = number of vibrational modes. A polyatomic molecule has 3 translational and 3 rotational degrees of freedom, and each vibrational mode contributes 2 12RT (kinetic + potential).
CV = (3 + n )R, CP = (4 + n )R
= 4 + n3 + n
3 + n = 4 + n
n( - 1) = 4 - 3
n = 4 - 3 - 1
Answer: (3)