What is mean free path?

Vedclass pdf generator app on play store
Vedclass iOS app on app store
(N/A) The mean free path is defined as the average distance traveled by a gas molecule between two successive collisions.
If a molecule travels distances $\lambda_1, \lambda_2, \lambda_3, ..., \lambda_n$ between $n$ successive collisions,the mean free path $\lambda$ is given by:
$\lambda = \frac{\lambda_1 + \lambda_2 + ... + \lambda_n}{n}$.
According to the kinetic theory of gases,it is expressed as $\lambda = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2} \pi d^2 n}$,where $d$ is the diameter of the molecule and $n$ is the number density of the molecules.

Explore More

Similar Questions

We have $0.5 \, g$ of hydrogen gas in a cubic chamber of size $3 \, cm$ kept at $NTP$. The gas in the chamber is compressed keeping the temperature constant until a final pressure of $100 \, atm$ is reached. Is one justified in assuming the ideal gas law in the final state? (Hydrogen molecules can be considered as spheres of radius $1 \, \mathring{A}$).

Difficult
View Solution

If $n$ is the number density and $d$ is the diameter of the molecule,then the average distance covered by a molecule between two successive collisions (i.e. mean free path) is represented by :

Calculate the ratio of the mean free paths of the molecules of two gases having molecular diameters $1\,\mathring{A}$ and $2\,\mathring{A}$. The gases may be considered under identical conditions of temperature,pressure,and volume.

The mean free path for a gas,with molecular diameter $d$ and number density $n$,can be expressed as:

If the diameter of a gas molecule is very small,what will be the mean free path?

Vedclass Products

For Students

Vedclass Test Series

Mock tests in real JEE/NEET style with performance analysis. 5-day free trial.

Start Free Trial
For Teachers

Exam Paper Generator

Generate Set A/B/C/D exam papers from 7.5L+ questions in 2 minutes. 3 chapters free.

Try Free
For Institutes

Online Exam Module

Live online exams with unlimited students, 360° analytics & white-label branding.

See Demo