1. What is Thermal Energy of Non-linear Polyatomic Gas?

Definition: This calculator computes the average thermal energy of a non-linear polyatomic gas molecule based on its atomicity and temperature.

Purpose: It helps in understanding the energy distribution in polyatomic gas molecules, important in thermodynamics and statistical mechanics.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( Q \) — Thermal energy (Joules)
• \( N \) — Atomicity (number of atoms in molecule)
• \( k \) — Boltzmann constant (1.38064852 × 10⁻²³ J/K)
• \( T \) — Temperature (Kelvin)

Explanation: For non-linear polyatomic molecules, there are 3N-6 vibrational degrees of freedom contributing to the thermal energy.

3. Importance of Thermal Energy Calculation

Details: Understanding thermal energy helps predict molecular behavior, heat capacity, and energy distribution in gases.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the atomicity (must be ≥3 for non-linear molecules) and temperature in Kelvin. All values must be positive.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why is atomicity limited to ≥3?
A: This calculator is specifically for non-linear polyatomic molecules, which require at least 3 atoms (diatomic and monatomic molecules have different energy calculations).

Q2: What's the significance of the Boltzmann constant?
A: It relates temperature to energy at the molecular level, fundamental in statistical mechanics.

Q3: Why 6N-6 in the formula?
A: Non-linear molecules have 3 translational, 3 rotational, and 3N-6 vibrational degrees of freedom. The formula accounts for all these energy contributions.

Q4: How does temperature affect the result?
A: Thermal energy is directly proportional to temperature - higher temperature means greater thermal energy.

Q5: What are typical values for polyatomic molecules?
A: Common polyatomic gases like CO₂ (N=3), CH₄ (N=5), or C₆H₆ (N=12) would have increasing thermal energy with higher atomicity.