The Maxwell-Boltzman velocity distribution |
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An ideal gas is imagined to be made up of particles with mass but no volume, in constant random motion. Elastic collisions take place both with other molecules and with the walls of the container. The kinetic energies are distributed normally and equi-partitioned - the average kinetic energy of all particles (identified as the temperature) is the same, irrespective of their mass.  The asymmetrical molecular velocity distribution is known as the Maxwell-Boltzman distribution. The inset has been prepared with an Applet running at.... |
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