the number of degrees of freedom for a rigid diatomic molecule is ------------
To determine the number of degrees of freedom for a rigid diatomic molecule, we need to consider the different ways in which the molecule can store and transfer energy.
A rigid diatomic molecule consists of two atoms that are bonded together and cannot rotate or vibrate independently. Therefore, it has three types of possible motion or degrees of freedom:
1. Translational motion: This refers to the movement of the entire molecule as a whole in three-dimensional space. Each atom can move independently in three directions (x, y, and z), giving a total of three translational degrees of freedom.
2. Rotational motion: Since a rigid diatomic molecule cannot rotate along its axis, it has two rotational degrees of freedom. These correspond to the rotation of the molecule around an axis perpendicular to the molecular axis.
3. Vibrational motion: In a rigid diatomic molecule, there is no independent vibration of the atoms. Hence, there are no vibrational degrees of freedom.
Therefore, the total number of degrees of freedom for a rigid diatomic molecule is the sum of its translational and rotational degrees of freedom, which is 3 + 2 = 5.