Question

Which one of the following statements is not true about the effect of an increase in temperature on the distribution of molecular speeds in a gas?
(a) The most probable speed increases.
(b) The fraction of the molecules with the most probable speed increases.
(c) The distribution becomes broader.
(d) The area under the distribution curve remains the same as under the lower temperature.

Answer 1

(b) : Most probable velocity is defined as the speed possessed by maximum number of molecules of a gas at a given temperature. According to Maxwell's distribution curves, as temperature increases, most probable velocity increases and fraction of molecule possessing most probable velocity decreases.