Class 11 Physics simulations · Kinetic Theory

Molecular mean free path

Follow a molecule through successive collisions in a dilute gas.

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What to notice

Higher pressure packs molecules closer together and reduces their mean free path.

Key relation

λ = kT/(√2πd²P)

Try this

Double pressure and watch the typical free path shorten.

What you can change

• Gas pressure: 20 to 200 kPa
• Temperature: 200 to 600 K
• Molecular diameter: 0.2 to 0.5 nm

More in Kinetic Theory

• Brownian motion
• Equipartition of energy
• Pressure vs temperature
• Molecules in motion
• Maxwell–Boltzmann speed distribution
• Pressure from molecular collisions

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