Derive the kinetic theory equation pV=Nm/3(crms2) for an ideal gas.

Assume a point molecule in a container with dimensions lx by ly by lz travelling at velocity c1 given by c12=u12+v12+w12​​​​​​ where u, v, w are the x, y, and z velocity components.

>each impact of the molecule with the ly by lz container face reverses the x component of the velocity, so the change in momentum dp is given by dp=(-mu1)-mu1=-2mu1

>the time between successive impacts t is given by t=2lx/u1

>using Newton's second law, the force F1 on a molecule is given by F1=-2mu1/(2lx/u1)=-mu12/lx

>using Newton's third law, the force Fs on the face surface is given by Fs=mu12/lx

>the pressure p1 exerted by the molecule on the impact face is given by p1=Fs/area of impact face=mu12/lxlylz=mu12/V where V is the container volume

>the total pressure p exerted by N molecules on the impact face is given by p=mu12/V + mu22/V + mu32/V +...+ mun2/V=m/V(u12 + u22 + u32+...+ un2)=Nm/V(u2) where u is the mean u component speed

>the motion of molecules is random meaning there is no preferred direction so p=Nm/3V(u2+v2+w2)=Nm/3V(crms2) where crms is the root mean square speed given by crms2=1/N(c12+c22​​​​​​​+c32 +…+cn2)

MV

Related Physics A Level answers

All answers ▸

Bernard says that a mass executing uniform circular motion is not accelerating as it's speed is not changing. Which parts of his statement are correct and which are false. For those which are false state why they are and give the correct version.


Explain how a standing wave is formed


From the 2016 OCR B paper A ball is thrown at an angle of 30 Degrees to the horizontal. The initial kinetic energy of the ball is K. Air resistance is negligible. What is the kinetic energy of the ball at the maximum height.


In an electric propulsion system, alpha particles are accelerated through a potential difference of 100kV at an average rate of 10^20 alpha particles per second. Calculate the average thrust the system can provide.