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rokr32
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Homework Statement
Gas is allowed to expand freely when the force of a piston is removed. In terms of the molecular model of an ideal gas, explain why the temperature decreases when it expands.
Homework Equations
Molecular model of an ideal gas
The Attempt at a Solution
When the force of a piston is removed, the volume expands. Give that the molecular model of an ideal gas says that molecules collide with each other, now that there's more volume, the molecules will collide less frequently. Since temperature = average KE of molecules, now that they collide with each other less, the KE decreases so temp decreases as well.
Is this correct? I feel like I'm mixing terms here but I don't know what.