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1 markPaper 1 · Multiple choiceThe Kinetic Theory of Gases

CAPE Physics Unit 1 · 2011 · Paper 1 · Question Q40

A gas contains N molecules. The speeds of the molecules are C_1, C_2, \dots, C_N. Which of the following equations can be used to determine the r.m.s speed of the molecules?

  1. (A)\sqrt{\frac{C_1 + C_2 + \dots C_N}{N}}
  2. (B)\sqrt{\frac{C_1^2 + C_2^2 + \dots C_N^2}{N}}
  3. (C)\sqrt{\frac{(C_1 + C_2 + \dots C_N)^2}{N}}
  4. (D)\sqrt{\frac{(C_1^2 + C_2^2 + \dots C_N^2)^2}{N}}

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