Kinetic molecular theory Transitional Reasoning Download PDF

Questions

1. 1.

   A student seals a fixed amount of helium gas inside a rigid, constant-volume container fitted with a sensitive pressure sensor. When the container is gradually warmed, the sensor records a steady increase in gas pressure even though the container volume and the total number of particles remain unchanged. Based on the kinetic molecular theory of matter, which statement best explains this observed increase in pressure?

   • A) The absorbed thermal energy causes the individual helium particles to expand in size, filling more space and crowding against the container walls.
   • B) The warming process strengthens the attractive forces between the helium particles, pulling them in coordinated waves toward the container boundaries.
   • C) The higher temperature causes the helium particles to collide and combine into larger clusters that exert greater gravitational force on the base of the container.
   • D) The added thermal energy increases the average kinetic energy of the particles, causing them to strike the container walls more frequently and with greater force.