KTG - Physics Presentation

Kinetic Theory of Gases
Physics Presentation
Name: Kushagra Sagar

Class: XI Fire
Introduction:
The physical properties and behaviour of solids and liquids can be identified and predicted due to us being able to
observe it directly. This however cannot be done for gases as we can’t directly see the movement of a group of
molecules at once. This problem is dealt with kinetic theory of gases, a theoretical model, and various gas laws.
The physical properties of gases can be studied with the help of three measurable macroscopic properties:
Pressure, Temperature, and Volume.
Contents:
1) Gas Laws
2) Kinetic Theory of Ideal Gases {Relation between pressure and kinetic energy of gases}
3) Maxwell’s distribution of molecular speeds
4) Degrees of Freedom
5) Law of Equipartition of Energy (Specific Heat Capacities)
6) Dulong and Petit’s Law
7) Brownian Motion
Gas Laws:
Gay Lussac’s Law given in the early 19th century states: When gases combine chemically to yield another gas,
their volumes are in ratios of small integers. This was possible to explain when Avogadro’s Law was combined
with Dalton’s theory.
Boyle’s Law states that the pressure of a gas and its volume are inversely proportional. Under isothermal
conditions, P1V1=P2V2 for any gas.
Charles's Law states that the volume of a gas is directly proportional to its absolute temperature if it’s pressure
remains constant, given by V1T2=V2T1.
Ideal Gas Equation: combining avogadro’s law and other gas laws an equation that holds true for all ideal gases
was formulated, PV=nRT, where R is gas constant, and n is the number of moles of the gas.
Kinetic Theory: (inter-relation of Pressure and KE)
The Kinetic theory was successfully developed in 19th century on basis of gas laws and avogadro’s
hypothesis which correctly explained the specific heat capacities of gases and measured properties of
gases such as viscosity, conduction and diffusion with molecular parameters and estimated molecular
sizes and masses near-accurately. The particles thus have kinetic energy and the continuous collisions on
the walls are what impart pressure.
The pressure of a gas is given by P=N*m*(v^2)/3*V and the kinetic energy of a gas is given by K=
N*(½)*m*(v^2), where N is the number of moles of the gas.
Simultaneously solving these equations we get the formulation,
PV=(3/2)K where P is the pressure and K is the kinetic energy of the gaseous
Maxwell’s distribution function and molecular speed:
In a given mass of gas, the velocities of all molecules are not the same, even when bulk parameters like pressure,
volume and temperature are fixed. Collisions change the direction and speed of molecules, however in a state of
equilibrium, the distribution of speeds is constant or fixed.
Molecular speed distribution gives the no of molecules between the speeds v and v+dv, dN(v)=4p*N*(a^3)*(e^-
bv^2)*(v^2)*dv=n(v)dv
This is known as maxwell’s distribution. The following

graph shows the plot of probability against velocities. The
Fraction of the molecules with speeds v and v+dv is equal
to the strip shown in the figure.
The integral <v^2>=(1/N)∫(v^2 dN(v) = [3k(b)*T/m)]^(½)

Degrees of Freedom:
The no. of ways in which a molecule can move is called its degree of freedom. The value of degree of freedom
helps in determining various thermodynamic parameters using the equipartition theorem.
There are three types of degrees of freedom, namely vibrational, translational and rotational. The number of
degrees of freedom possessed by each depends on both the number of atoms in the molecule and the geometry of
the molecule, with geometry referring to the way in which the atoms are arranged in space.
Degree of Freedom: for different molecules
Molecules of a monatomic gas like argon have only translational degrees of freedom.
A diatomic molecule of gas like O2 and N2 have three translational degrees of freedom and in addition to it, it
can also move about its centre of mass. The molecule thus has two degrees of freedom, each of which contributes
a term to the total energy of translational energy ε(t) and rotational energy ε(r), where the latter consists of
angular speeds in place of linear velocities.
We assume that molecules like O2 are “rigid rotators”, and while that may be true for moderate temperatures,
they’re not always accurate and the vibrational energy always add to the powers ε(v).
Law of Equipartition of Energy: Specific Heat Capacities
Monatomic gases: The Molecule of monatomic gas has only three translational degrees of freedom, thus the average energy of a
molecule at temperature T is (3/2)k(b)*T. Therefore one mole of the gas has total internal energy as (3/2)*R*T. The Molar
specific heat capacity is given by (dU/dt)=(3/2)*R*T.
Diatomic gases: Diatomic molecules are treated as rigid rotators, hence they have 3 translational and 2 rotational degrees of
freedom,the total internal energy of a mole of such a gas is U=(5/2)*R*T. If the molecule is not rigid and has an extra vibrational
Mode, (U)+1=(7/2)*R*T.
Polyatomic gases: These type of atoms have 3 degrees of translational, 3 for rotational and a certain number of vibrational
known as f. Therefore U= (3/2+3/2+f)*K(b)*t = (3+f)*t.
Another concept for the topic is specific heat and constant volume (C(v)) and specific heat for constant pressure (C(p)). . They
have the relation, C(p)-C(v)=R. The ratio of C(p)/C(v)= 5/3 for monatomic, 7/5 for diatomic and 9/7 for Polyatomic.
Dulong and Petit Law:
The Dulong and Petit Law states that the product of specific heat and atomic mass (or gram atomic mass) of an element is always
a constant. It is constant for all solid elements. If the value of specific heat of the material is available, its atomic mass can be
calculated using this fundamental law.
Equation: c*M=k where,
c= specific heat capacity
M=molar mass
k=constant (which was later discovered to be 3R)
This implies, (C/n)=3R
Where n = no. of moles
This law is, however only valid at high temperatures. Before that, quantum thermodynamics takes over
the role of classical thermodynamics.
The graph shows that all materials, after a certain high temperature begin to flatten out at dulong-petit law
Prediction.
Brownian Movement:
Brownian Motion refers to the random motion of the small particles displayed as a result of collision of particles
with other moving particles. The size of the particles is inversely proportional to the speed of the molecules, mass
of the particles and the viscosity of the fluid. This motion causes the particles to be in constant motion and
prevents them from settling down. Kinetic Theory of Gases explains pressure and temperature correlation
based on brownian movement.
Thank You

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Kinetic Theory of Gases

Name: Kushagra Sagar

Simultaneously solving these equations we get the formulation,

This is known as maxwell’s distribution. The following

The integral <v^2>=(1/N)∫(v^2 dN(v) = [3k(b)*T/m)]^(½)

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