In 1995 a research group led by Eric Cornell and Carl Wiemann at the University of Colorado successfully cooled Rubidium atoms to the 20-200 nK temperature range. Assuming (incorrectly) that the Rubidium atoms behave like particles of a classical ideal gas, calculate the RMS speed of a Rubidium atom at a temperature of 53.0 nK. In the experiments one particular isotope of Rubidium was used, Rubidium-87. The molar mass of this isotope is 86.91 g/mol.
Kinetic Theory of Gas
The Kinetic Theory of gases is a classical model of gases, according to which gases are composed of molecules/particles that are in random motion. While undergoing this random motion, kinetic energy in molecules can assume random velocity across all directions. It also says that the constituent particles/molecules undergo elastic collision, which means that the total kinetic energy remains constant before and after the collision. The average kinetic energy of the particles also determines the pressure of the gas.
P-V Diagram
A P-V diagram is a very important tool of the branch of physics known as thermodynamics, which is used to analyze the working and hence the efficiency of thermodynamic engines. As the name suggests, it is used to measure the changes in pressure (P) and volume (V) corresponding to the thermodynamic system under study. The P-V diagram is used as an indicator diagram to control the given thermodynamic system.
In 1995 a research group led by Eric Cornell and Carl Wiemann at the University of Colorado successfully cooled Rubidium atoms to the 20-200 nK temperature range. Assuming (incorrectly) that the Rubidium atoms behave like particles of a classical ideal gas, calculate the RMS speed of a Rubidium atom at a temperature of 53.0 nK. In the experiments one particular isotope of Rubidium was used, Rubidium-87. The molar mass of this isotope is 86.91 g/mol.
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