- For a monatomic gas, molecules can move only in three mutually perpendicular directions.
- Hence, the degrees of freedom for a monatomic gas are:
\[
f_1 = 3
\]
- For a diatomic gas (at ordinary temperatures), molecules have:
- 3 translational degrees of freedom
- 2 rotational degrees of freedom
- So total degrees of freedom:
\[
f_2 = 5
\]
- Therefore, the ratio of degrees of freedom (monatomic : diatomic) is:
\[
\frac{f_1}{f_2} = \frac{3}{5}
\]
- Hence, the required ratio is:
3:5