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enter image description herein my notes from class I have that

Vrms= sqrt(3kT/m) for a pt molecule Vrms= sqrt(5kT/m) for a diatomic molecule and that Vrms= sqrt(6kT/m) for a triatomic-> higher order molecule

but RMS Speed of Gas Molecule for Polyatomic Molecules

says that Vrms=sqrt(3kT/m) always and I don't understand why that is.

Thanks,

I know another post has about the same question- but wasn't able to comment or add a related question due to my 0 reputation.

Don't understand where Vrms formula comes from. Is it solely dependent on translation motion. And that's why for all molecules you can use the same exact Vrms formula.

RMS Speed of Gas Molecule for Polyatomic Molecules

ThermoRestart
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1 Answers1

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$\frac 12 mv^2_{\rm rms}$ is the mean translational kinetic energy of an atom/molecule and it is the the mean translational kinetic energy which is proportional to the temperature.

Vibrations and rotations may contribute to the total kinetic energy of a molecule but it is the translational kinetic energy which is linked to temperature.

Vrms= sqrt(3kT/m) for a pt molecule Vrms= sqrt(5kT/m) for a diatomic molecule and that
Vrms= sqrt(6kT/m) for a triatomic-> higher order molecule.

The first equation is correct for all atoms/molecules but the statements about diatomic and triatomic molecules are not correct as $\frac 52kT$ and $\frac 62kT$ are equal to the total kinetic energy of a molecule not just the translational part.

Farcher
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