According to the kinetic-molecular theory, gases are highly compressible because the particles of they consist:
a. lose energy when they collide with each other
b. are very apart from each other
c. experience a strong force of attraction
d. experience a strong force of repulsion
i thought it was b.
thnx
According to the kinetic-molecular theory, gases are highly compressible because the particles they consist of are very far apart from each other. Therefore, option b is correct.
According to the kinetic-molecular theory, gases are highly compressible because the particles they consist of are very far apart from each other (option b).
To arrive at this answer, let's break down the kinetic-molecular theory and understand why this is the case:
The kinetic-molecular theory describes the behavior of gases based on several key principles:
1. Gaseous particles are in constant motion: The theory states that gas particles are in constant random motion, moving in straight lines until they collide with other particles or the walls of the container.
2. Gaseous particles occupy a large volume relative to their size: Gas particles are considered to be very small and are assumed to occupy a negligible amount of space compared to the overall volume of the gas. Therefore, we can assume that the particles are very far apart from each other.
3. Gaseous particles mostly experience elastic collisions: When gas particles collide with each other or the walls of the container, it is assumed that the collisions are perfectly elastic, meaning no energy is lost during the collision.
Based on these principles, we can understand why gases are highly compressible. When a gas is compressed, its volume decreases. As the gas particles are already assumed to be very far apart, compressing the gas makes the particles come closer together. The decrease in volume causes the gas particles to collide with each other more frequently, increasing the likelihood of particle collisions. Since the collisions are assumed to be elastic, no energy is lost, meaning the particles will rebound from each other and regain their original kinetic energy.
Option b, "are very apart from each other," aligns with the principles of the kinetic-molecular theory and provides the correct explanation for why gases are highly compressible.