Unit - I [Type the document title]

Session – 05

Degrees of Freedom:
Degrees of freedom of a body can be defined as the total number of independent
variables required to describe completely the state of motion of a body.

If a body Ex: An ant is allowed to move along a straight line, it has one degree of
freedom as only one co-ordinate is enough to identify its position ( x). If it moves on a
plane, then it has two degrees of freedom ( x , y ) and if the body is allowed to move in space
Ex: A flying insect then it can move along any of the three coordinate axes ( x , y , z) and so it
will have three degrees of freedom. A rigid body, however, not only moves but also rotates
about any axis passing through itself. Hence, it has 3 degrees of freedom due to rotational
motion. Thus, it has in all 6 degrees freedom.

Mono-atomic Molecules:
The molecules consists of only one atom Ex: Neon ( Ne), Helium ( He) etc., has 3
degrees of freedom (all are translational) as shown in figure.

Diatomic Molecules:
The molecules consists of two atoms and these are considered to have the shape of
dumb bell Ex: HCl ,O2 , CO , C l 2 etc has 5 degrees of freedom 3 are translatory and 2 are
rotational motion as shown in figure.

At high temperatures, in addition to the translatory and rotational motion there is a

vibrational motion and in that case a diatomic molecule possesses 7 degrees of freedom in
all.

Triatomic Molecules:
There are three atoms. A triatomic molecule, if it is non-linear Ex: S O2 , H 2 S etc.,
has 6 degrees of freedom in which 3 are translatory and 3 are rotational motion. Figure
shows a triatomic non-linear molecule.

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Unit - I [Type the document title]

If it is linear Ex: CO 2 , CH 2 , etc., has 5 degrees of freedom,

similar to diatomic molecule i.e., 3 translatory and 2 rotational.
Figure shows a triatomic linear molecule.

In additional to translational and rotational motion the

molecule also possesses vibratory motion, for a particularly at high
temperature as discussed above.

Principle of Equipartition of Energy:

On the basis of statistical analysis Maxwell formulated a law known as law of
equipartition of energy or Maxwell’s law of equipartition of energy.

1
As per kinetic energy of a molecule, each degree of freedom is kT .
2

Where, k is the Boltzmann’s constant and T is the absolute temperature. In the

treatment of kinetic theory of gases, it is assumed that in the steady state.

u2=v 2=w2 alsoC 2=u2 + v 2+ w2

C2 2 2 2
∴ =u =v =w ⟶ ( 1 )
3

Where u , v and w are the average values of component velocities along X , Y and
Z−¿ axis.

According to kinetic theory of gases, the mean kinetic energy of a molecule at a

temperature T is given by the following relation.

1 3
K . E . of a molecule= mC 2= kT ⟶ ( 2 )
2 2

1 1 1 1
∴ mC2 = mu2 + m v 2+ mw 2
2 2 2 2

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Unit - I [Type the document title]

1 1 1 1
( ) (
¿ mC 2=3 mu2 =3 m v 2 =3 m w2
2 2 2 2 ) ( )
By using relation (1) and (2) we have

3 ( 12 m u )= 32 kT ∨ 12 m u = 12 kT
2 2

Similarly

1 1 kT ∧1 1
m v 2= m w2= kT ⟶ ( 3 )
2 2 2 2

From the above equation it is clear that the total kinetic energy is equally divided
among all the three degrees of freedom. It is known as the law of equipartition of energy
and it is true for any number of degrees of freedom.

This law can be stated as for any dynamical system in thermal equilibrium. The total
available energy is divided among all the degrees of freedom and average energy associated
1
with one molecule per degree of freedom is kT .
2

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