Intro

Worksheet

Activity

Beginner's Guide to Propulsion
Air Temperature and Kinetic Energy
Answers:

1. What is the name of the branch of physics that studies the temperature of objects and the flow of heat between objects of different temperatures?
   Thermodynamics
   
   
2. Temperature is a scalar quantity with magnitude, but no direction. Can you think of something else we commonly measure that is also a scalar quantity?
   Distance
   
   
3. A gas is composed of a large number of molecules that are in __________, __________ motion.
   Constant, Random
   
   
4. When the temperature is high, the molecules move _____________.
   Faster
   
   
5. What is the name of the device used to measure temperature?
   Thermometer
   
    
6. Temperature is really a measure of the average kinetic energy of a gas. What is the formula used for determining kinetic energy?
   KE = mv² / 2
   
   
7. Convert these two numbers to scientific notation: 456.2332 and 0.00002349.
   4.562332 x 10² and 2.349 x 10^-5
   
   
8. Find the mass of one atomic unit of each of the following five gases: Hydrogen, Helium, Oxygen, Nitrogen, and Neon.

   Hydrogen -1.6731 x 10-27 kg	Nitrogen - 2.3251 x 10-26 kg
   Helium - 6.6443 x 10-27 kg	Neon - 3.3497 x 10-26 kg
   Oxygen - 2.6559 x 10-26 kg

   
   
9. Assume the average velocity of oxygen at room temperature is 480 meters per second. Using the kinetic energy formula along with your answer from question 8, calculate the kinetic energy for oxygen.
   3.0596 x 10^-21
   
   
10. Assume the average velocity of nitrogen at room temperature is 510 meters per second. Using the kinetic energy formula along with your answer from question 8, calculate the kinetic energy for nitrogen.
    3.0238 x 10^-21
    
    
11. Assume the average velocity of hydrogen at room temperature is 390 meters per second. Using the kinetic energy formula along with your answer from question 8, calculate the kinetic energy for hydrogen.
    1.2724 x 10^-22
    
     
12. Write a sentence or two summarizing what you learned from this activity.
    Answers will vary depending on age and ability of students.