All Questions
2 questions
4
votes
3
answers
591
views
Why potential energy is not considered in the internal energy of diatomic molecules?
In thermodynamics, I am taught that there are 5 degrees of freedom in diatomic molecules since there are 3 for translational and 2 for rotational. I interpret degrees of freedom as "ways you can ...
4
votes
1
answer
3k
views
The "potential energy" degree of freedom?
I'm reading Schroeder's "An Introduction to Thermal Physics" and he mentions the vibrational degrees of freedom of a diatomic molecule:
A diatomic molecule can also vibrate, as if the two atoms ...