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The translational degrees of freedom (fₜ) and rotational degrees of freedom (fᵣ) of a CH₄ molecule are

Asked in JEE Main 4th April 2nd Shift 2024 · Degrees of freedom and equipartition

Answer: (4) fₜ = 3 and fᵣ = 3

Step-by-step solution

Translational degrees of freedom are three for any molecule moving in three dimensions, so fₜ=3.

Rotational degrees of freedom depend on shape: two for a linear molecule, three for a non-linear one.

CH₄ is tetrahedral, so it can rotate about three independent axes: fᵣ=3.

fₜ=3 and fᵣ=3.

Why the other options are wrong

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