Talk:Kinetic theory

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Contents 1 Postulates 2 Kinetic theory (of gases) 3 Pressure 4 Flucluation dissipation theorem 5 Assumptions 6 Improvements 7 Moving molecules - why? 8 Illustration requests

[edit] Postulates

The kinetic theory for ideal gases makes the following assumptions:

These molecules are in constant, random motion.

A particle can achive a velocity of 0 m/s, so i would deny it is in constant motion I suggest: The molecules move in random and chaotic motion. The velocities that the molecules can attain, cover the complete range between 0 and infinity and are distributed according the Maxwell-Bolzmann frequency distribution function.

Huisman 15:06, 2006 May 8 (GMT)

consider water as an example and how it changes for the states gas, liquid and solid. Think about all the macroscopic and microscopic things that happen and this theory will begin to make since. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 138.88.75.90 (talk) 23:00, 31 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Kinetic theory (of gases)

We have an article called Kinetic theory of gases that redirects to an article called Kinetic theory. But the Kinetic theory article only seems to refer to gases! Shouldn't we either put the content under Kinetic theory of gases or add information about solids and liquids?

Brianjd 05:55, 2004 Nov 13 (UTC)

There is no discussion of the Kinetic theory for MHD (magnetohydrodynamics) which is one of the largest branches of Kinetic theory and used in Plasma Physics.

[edit] Pressure

The kinetic molecular theory has to do with the movement and collision of molecules. Molecules have to collide for a reaction to happen. The energy of the collision breaks the old chemical bonds so a reaction can happen and new bonds can form. So it's not only about gas particles.

The discussion of pressure is beyond me at the moment but I think it should be expanded to deal with any shaped container, not just a cube. Brianjd 05:39, 2004 Nov 11 (UTC)

The derivation shown is a widely accepted standard derivation. To use a cube is traditional and (as far as I know) trivial. sconzey 14:08, 2005 Sept 16 (GMT)

The notion TotalForce as it is used in the derivation is not correct or at least not consistent with the physical notion "force" which is a vector. In this sense the total force exerted in x direction is zero! The correct derivation is that if there is no preferred direction the averages of v_x^2, v_y^2 and v_z^2 all must be equal and so also equal to the average of 1/3*v^2. Cede69 14:49, 24 August 2006 (UTC)

Yes and no. You are right that the container as a whole experiences no net force; it remains stationary. I added a bit of clarification to acknowledge this point. However, the forces the derivation considers are all along "outward" vectors normal to the surface of the container. This is a perfectly sensible notion of force, and is perfectly compatible with the notion of a force as a vector. For a cube, it is easy to add up the outward forces on each of the six sides, but in more advanced derivations, the total force experienced by more complex surfaces can be calculated using calculus. Consideration of force as a sum of an infinitely large set of vectors is typical of college-level treatment of this type of theory. (Or at least it is at MIT.) -- Beland 06:58, 7 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Flucluation dissipation theorem

The article should link to the fluctuation dissipation theorem. (AC)

[edit] Assumptions

Do the equations not assume that the particles do *not* collide with eachother? sconzey 14:08, 2005 Sept 16 (GMT)

I think they may assume elastic collisions. -- Beland 06:43, 7 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Improvements

The discussion should include calculations of viscosity and heat conduction for ideal gases and explain how the kinetic theory is rigorously derived from the Boltzmann equation. Mention should also be made of the Chapman-Enskog approach and Grad's moment approach which apply kinetic theory to non-ideal gasses Jim McElwaine 09:52, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Moving molecules - why?

These molecules are in constant, random motion. The rapidly moving particles constantly collide with each other and with the walls of the container. - why are they moving? --Palnatoke 21:56, 9 February 2007 (UTC)

The simple answer is that there is nothing to stop them from moving; they experience largely elastic collisions. What got them moving in the first place is a question about the nature of the Big Bang which I'm not sure science has answered yet. -- Beland 06:43, 7 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Illustration requests

It would be very helpful to have one or more illustrations using the traditional idealized hard spheres or points. -- Beland 06:46, 7 April 2007 (UTC)