Question

1)

a.)Does 1 atom have rotational modes?

b.)What is the MAX number of modes that one atom can have?

c.)Can a diatomic molecule have vibrational modes?if so, how many? For each vibrational mode what types of energies are present?

d.)Categorize the modes into types of kinetic and potential energy modes

Answer 1

a) No, a single atom can't have rotational model. As the moment of inertia will be very small, So rotational effect will be negligible.

b) One atom can have a maximum of 3 translational modes.

c) Yes a diatomic molecule can have vibrational modes at very high temperatures.  A diatomic molecular can have one vibrational degree of freedom. Each mode carry on an average (1/2) k T of energy in the form of vibration.

d) Each translational and rotational mode corresponds to kinetic energy modes. And each  vibration mode correspond to potential energy mode.