A general question on gases, how can they absorb or emit heat if one of their characteristics is elastic collisions that conserve kinetic energy? It seems to me that conservation of kinetic energy would mean that no heat energy is present. Or is it that absolute temperature and average translational kinetic energy are directly proportional but still completely separaty quantities that just happen to vary?

Question

A general question on gases, how can they absorb or emit heat if one of their characteristics is elastic collisions that conserve kinetic energy? It seems to me that conservation of kinetic energy would mean that no heat energy is present.  Or is it that absolute temperature and average translational kinetic energy are directly proportional but still completely separaty quantities that just happen to vary?

sweetburger · Answer

Alright real gasses dont have elastic collisions only ideal gasses which do not technically exist have ideal collisions