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Choose the correct option · Q1

Q.In an ideal gas, the molecules possess (A) only kinetic energy
(B) both kinetic energy and potential energy
(C) only potential energy
(D) neither kinetic energy nor potential energy

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In an ideal gas, the molecules are assumed not to interact with one another at all except during the instant of a collision, so there is no intermolecular potential energy at any separation. The internal energy of an ideal gas is therefore purely kinetic -- E = N(1/2 m v^2), and using the ideal gas equation this reduces to E = (3/2)NkBT, entirely a function of the molecules' translational kinetic energy and the temperature. There is no potential-energy contribution to subtract or add. [!ANSWER] (A) only kinetic energy

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