Explain why the drum must be in a vacuum - AQA - A-Level Physics - Question 3 - 2021 - Paper 2
Question 3
Explain why the drum must be in a vacuum.
If the drum is not in a vacuum, gas atoms will collide with air atoms, changing their direction or speed distribution.
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Explain why the drum must be in a vacuum - AQA - A-Level Physics - Question 3 - 2021 - Paper 2
Step 1
Explain why the drum must be in a vacuum.
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Answer
The drum must be in a vacuum to prevent gas atoms from colliding with air molecules. These collisions would alter the velocity distribution of the gas atoms, impacting the accuracy of the experiment that measures their speeds.