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Internal Energy Formula:
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The internal energy of a triatomic non-linear system represents the total energy contained within the system due to molecular motions and interactions. For polyatomic gases in thermal equilibrium, each degree of freedom contributes an average energy of kT/2, where T is the absolute temperature and k is Boltzmann's constant.
The calculator uses the internal energy formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates the internal energy based on the equipartition theorem, where each degree of freedom contributes ½kT to the total internal energy.
Details: Calculating internal energy is essential for understanding thermodynamic properties, predicting system behavior under different conditions, and analyzing energy transfer in chemical and physical processes.
Tips: Enter temperature in Kelvin. The value must be valid (temperature > 0). The calculator will compute the internal energy using Boltzmann's constant.
Q1: Why 6 degrees of freedom for triatomic non-linear molecules?
A: Triatomic non-linear molecules have 3 translational, 3 rotational, and 3 vibrational degrees of freedom, but typically 6 are considered for internal energy calculations at moderate temperatures.
Q2: What is Boltzmann's constant?
A: Boltzmann's constant (1.38064852 × 10⁻²³ J/K) relates the average kinetic energy of particles in a gas with the thermodynamic temperature.
Q3: How does temperature affect internal energy?
A: Internal energy increases linearly with temperature according to the equipartition theorem.
Q4: Are there limitations to this calculation?
A: This calculation assumes ideal gas behavior and may not account for quantum effects at very low temperatures or intermolecular interactions at high densities.
Q5: Can this be used for all triatomic molecules?
A: This calculation is specifically for non-linear triatomic molecules. Linear triatomic molecules have different degrees of freedom.