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Which statements are correct about degrees of freedom? (A) A molecule with n degrees of freedom has n² different ways of storing energy. (B) Each degree of freedom is associated with 1/2 RT average energy per mole. (C) A monoatomic gas molecule has 1 rotational degree of freedom whereas a diatomic molecule has 2 rotational degrees of freedom. (D) CH₄ has a total of 6 degrees of freedom.

Asked in JEE Main 27th July 2nd Shift 2022 · Degrees of freedom and equipartition

• (1) (B) and (C) only
• (2) (B) and (D) only
• (3) (A) and (B) only
• (4) (C) and (D) only

Step-by-step solution

Why the other options are wrong

• (1) Includes (C), but a monoatomic molecule has zero rotational degrees of freedom.
• (3) Includes (A), but the number of ways of storing energy is n, not n².
• (4) Includes (C) again and drops the correct equipartition statement.

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