In three-dimensional space, three degrees of freedom are associated with the movement of a particle. A diatomic gas molecule has 6 degrees of freedom{{Dubious|reason=diatomic molecules have at most 6, usually 5|date=April 2017}}. This set may be decomposed in terms of translations, rotations, and [[molecular vibration|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 [[rotation]]al degrees of motion and one{{Dubious|reason=diatomic molecules have at most 1, usually zero vibrational modes|date=April 2017}} [[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{{Dubious|reason=Diatomic molecules rotate and precess|date=April 2017}}. This yields, for a diatomic molecule, a decomposition of: | In three-dimensional space, three degrees of freedom are associated with the movement of a particle. A diatomic gas molecule has 6 degrees of freedom{{Dubious|reason=diatomic molecules have at most 6, usually 5|date=April 2017}}. This set may be decomposed in terms of translations, rotations, and [[molecular vibration|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 [[rotation]]al degrees of motion and one{{Dubious|reason=diatomic molecules have at most 1, usually zero vibrational modes|date=April 2017}} [[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{{Dubious|reason=Diatomic molecules rotate and precess|date=April 2017}}. This yields, for a diatomic molecule, a decomposition of: |