<P> In three - dimensional space , three degrees of freedom are associated with the movement of a particle . A diatomic gas molecule has 5 degrees of freedom . This set may be decomposed in terms of translations , rotations , and vibrations of the molecule . The center of mass motion of the entire molecule accounts for 3 degrees of freedom . In addition , the molecule has two rotational degrees of motion and one vibrational mode . The rotations occur around the two axes perpendicular to the line between the two atoms . The rotation around the atom -- atom bond is not a physical rotation . This yields , for a diatomic molecule , a decomposition of : </P>
<P> In three - dimensional space , three degrees of freedom are associated with the movement of a particle . A diatomic gas molecule has 5 degrees of freedom . This set may be decomposed in terms of translations , rotations , and vibrations of the molecule . The center of mass motion of the entire molecule accounts for 3 degrees of freedom . In addition , the molecule has two rotational degrees of motion and one vibrational mode . The rotations occur around the two axes perpendicular to the line between the two atoms . The rotation around the atom -- atom bond is not a physical rotation . This yields , for a diatomic molecule , a decomposition of : </P>
write the number of degrees of freedom of a diatomic gas molecule
write the number of degrees of freedom of a diatomic gas molecule
5 degrees of freedom
5 degrees of freedom