Chapter 40 of 2363 min read
Degrees of freedom, law of equipartition, specific heats
Why this is asked: Each degree of freedom contributes ½kT, so Cv = (f/2)R: monatomic gas has f=3 (Cv=3/2R), diatomic has f=5 at ordinary temperatures (Cv=5/2R), and only gains its two vibrational modes — becoming f=7 — at high temperature.
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