jenny measures the temperature inside a cave to be 10°c. the temperature outside the cave is about 30°c…

jenny measures the temperature inside a cave to be 10°c. the temperature outside the cave is about 30°c warmer. how does the kinetic energy of the air molecules inside the cave compare to the kinetic energy of the air molecules outside the cave? the kinetic energy of the air molecules inside the cave is the kinetic energy of the air molecules outside the cave.

jenny measures the temperature inside a cave to be 10°c. the temperature outside the cave is about 30°c warmer. how does the kinetic energy of the air molecules inside the cave compare to the kinetic energy of the air molecules outside the cave? the kinetic energy of the air molecules inside the cave is the kinetic energy of the air molecules outside the cave.

Answer

Explanation:

Step1: Recall kinetic - energy and temperature relation

The average kinetic energy of gas molecules is directly proportional to the absolute temperature ($K_{avg}=\frac{3}{2}kT$, where $k$ is the Boltzmann constant and $T$ is the temperature in Kelvin).

Step2: Convert Celsius to Kelvin

The temperature inside the cave $T_{in}=10^{\circ}C = 10 + 273=283K$. The temperature outside the cave $T_{out}=10 + 30=40^{\circ}C=40 + 273 = 313K$.

Step3: Compare kinetic energies

Since $K_{avg}\propto T$, and $T_{in}<T_{out}$, the average kinetic energy of air molecules inside the cave is less than that outside the cave.

Answer:

less than