Question

The two nuclei in the carbon monoxide (CO) molecule are 0.1128nm apart. The mass of
the carbon atom is 1.993x10-26kg and the mass of the oxygen atom 2.656x10-26kg.
Because the two atoms have different masses, the center of gravity of the molecule is
NOT half-way between the atoms.
1. Calculate the location of the center of gravity of the CO molecule and deduce the
distances rC and rO of, respectively, the Carbon atom and the Oxygen atom from
the center of gravity. Deduce the moment of inertia I = mCrC^2+mOrO^2 (in kg.m2) of
the CO molecule.
2. Deduce the energies of the lowest three rotational energy levels (that is not
including l =0). Express your results in electron-volts (eV).
3. Find the wavelength of the photon emitted in the transition from the l =2 level to
the l =1 level.

Answer 1