Knowing what information would allow you to order gas molecules according to their velocity?
A. Pressure and temperature
B. Volume and molecular mass
C. Pressure and volume
D. Temperature and molecular mass
To order gas molecules according to their velocity, you need to consider two factors: temperature and molecular mass.
Temperature (D) plays a crucial role in determining the average kinetic energy of gas molecules, which is directly proportional to their velocity. As the temperature increases, the average kinetic energy, and therefore the velocity of the gas molecules, also increase.
Molecular mass (B) affects the velocity of gas molecules inversely. Heavier gas molecules have lower velocities compared to lighter gas molecules at the same temperature. This is because the average kinetic energy of gas molecules is shared among all the molecules, and heavier molecules can store more energy due to their greater mass.
Therefore, to order gas molecules according to their velocity, you would need information about both the temperature and the molecular mass of the gas. The correct answer is (D) Temperature and molecular mass.