Maxwell-Boltzman distribution curve

Question 1

where is the most probable energy located on the curve ?

Answer 1

it is directly under the peak of the curve (see notes)

Question 2

where does the curve start ? and why ?

Answer 2

at 0,0 , the origin because there are no molecules with 0

Question 3

what does the fact that some molecules have a very high energy tell us ?

Answer 3

that there is no maximum energy that molecules could have

Question 4

what does the area under the curve tell us ?

Answer 4

the total number of molecules in a system

Question 5

where is the mean energy located on the graph ? and why ?

Answer 5

slightly to the right of the most probable energy
- because particles at very high energies skew the mean to the right

Question 6

what happens to the:
most probable energy at higher temps ?

Answer 6

there are more particles with very high energies at higher temps
the most probable energy also increases but the number of particles with the most probable energy falls- so curve shifts to the right
this is because molecules move faster therefore more frequent collisions and higher number of molecules with at least the activation energy