Heat-Capacity Lag Measurements in Various Gases

Abstract
The impact‐tube method of measuring relaxation times for the transfer of molecular energy from translational to internal degrees of freedom has been introduced in a previous report. This method has been applied to a series of gases to make measurements of relaxation times which would be difficult to measure quantitatively by sonic methods. Measurements of the relaxation times of the vibrational energy of H2O, N2, N2 catalyzed by H2O, and CCl2F2 are presented. The existence of a measurable lag in the adjustment of the rotational heat capacity of H2 has been confirmed, and measurements of its relaxation time are presented.