Postulates of Kinetic Theory of Gases
Based on the assumptions, the following Postulates of the Kinetic Theory of Gases are given:
- All the molecules of a single gas are the same and identical but are different from the other gas molecules which have different properties as well.
- Every gas consists of molecules that are microscopic particles such that the volume of all the molecules combined is negligible when compared with the total volume of the container i.e., in other words, the size of the molecule is negligible as compared to the molecular distance between two molecules (which is approximately 10-9 m).
- The time in which particles collide with the container’s wall is negligible compared to the time taken by molecules in two successive collisions.
- The number of particles in the system is a very large number, so we can use statistics instead of considering individual particles. This assumption is known as the Thermodynamic limit.
- The collision between two particles of gases is perfectly elastic i.e., molecules of a gas are hard round spheres.
- There is no exchange of energy between gas particles except the collision.
Kinetic Theory of Gases
Kinetic Theory of Gases is a theoretical model which helps us understand the behavior of gases and their constituent particles. This theory suggests that gas is made up of a larger number of tiny particles which collide with each other and their surroundings and exchange kinetic energy between them. The kinetic theory of gases has various applications throughout physics, chemistry, and engineering and it is essential to understand many phenomena like diffusion, effusion, and Brownian motion.
In this article, we will learn about the assumptions of kinetic theory, its limitations, and others in detail.