. All particles would be perfectly stationary because there is no thermal energy to facilitate motion. Extension Question 2: Changing Moles of Gas

The rms speed is given by:

"Explain why an increase in temperature increases the rate of a reaction, even though only a small percentage of collisions result in a reaction."

Decoding the Maxwell-Boltzmann Distribution: POGIL Extension Questions Guide

Extension questions often ask to compare areas under the curve. The area under the curve represents the total number of molecules.

These POGIL activities also frequently incorporate the effect of particle mass. The average kinetic energy of gas molecules is solely dependent on temperature. For two gases at the same temperature, the heavier molecules must move slower on average to maintain the same kinetic energy. This means the distribution curve for a heavier gas has a taller, narrower peak at lower speeds compared to a lighter gas.

: Heavier gases have a narrower, taller distribution at lower speeds.