Unit three -71- Chapter seven

The kinetic theory of gases

and some of its applications
Kinetic theory:

1. A gas is composed of perfectly elastic spheres called molecules.

2. The intermolecular distances are so large that the volume of the gas’s

molecules is negligible compared with the volume occupied by the gas

itself.

3. The intermolecular forces are so weak due to the large intermolecular

distances, so they are negligible. And that leads to neglect the

intermolecular force between molecules, and neglect the potential energy

of molecules, therefore the path taken by the molecule does not depends

on the mass of molecules, which means does not depends on the kind of

matter.

4. Gas molecules are in continuous random motion colliding each other and

the walls of the container.

5. The collisions between the molecules are considered as perfectly elastic

collisions, so the kinetic energy of the gas molecules remains constant

before and after the collision.

6. The gas in thermal equilibrium with the walls of the container.

The mole:

• It is the molecular mass of any substance expressed in grams.

• The mole of any different substance contain the same number of molecules,

and that number is known as Avogadro’s number.

Summary 2008/2009
 Unit three -72- Chapter seven

Avogadro’s number:

• It is the number of molecules in one mole of substance.

Avogadro’s law:

• Equal volumes of different gases contain equal number of molecules under the

same conditions of temperature and pressure.

• According to Avogadro’s number and Avogadro’s law, we can conclude that

one mole of any gas occupy the same volume.

• The mole of any gas occupy 22.4 liters at S.P.T

Density:

• If the mass of each molecule is m, and the number of molecules in a

specific volume is N; the mass of the gas calculated as:

M = Nm
M
ρ=
Vol

Nm
ρ=
Vol

Pressure:

• Considering of cube vessel of length “l” contains certain amount of gas,

the mass of each molecule (m) and its velocity at x-axis (v x), the

momentum is equal to (mvx)

• After impact the wall the momentum will be equal to (– mvx)

• The change of momentum of one molecule is equal to [∆PL] = (-mvx) –

(mvx)

• ∆PL = -2 mvx

Summary 2008/2009
 Unit three -73- Chapter seven

• The change in momentum delivered to the wall [∆PL’] is opposite to the

change in the linear momentum of the molecule.

• [∆PL’] = 2 mvx
∆PL′
• Since force can be calculated from the relation: F =
∆t

• But the time of impact is very small therefore that time is replaced by the

time between two impacts, and the force measured in this case considered

as the average force.

• The distance covered by a molecule between two impact is (2l)

s
vx =
t
2l
vx =
t
2l
t=
vx

• Force is the change of momentum per time.

vx
Fav = 2mv x ×
2l
2
mv x
Fav =
l

• If the number of molecules are N, so the force will be equal to:

2
mv x
Fav = N
l

• Pressure equal to the force per unit area.

Fav
P=
A
2
Nmv x
P=
lA

• The area of the square is L2, and the volume of cube is L3

Summary 2008/2009
 Unit three -74- Chapter seven

2
Nmv x
P=
l3
2
Nmv x
P=
Vol

• Generally, in the three dimension:

• V2 = Vx2 + Vy2 + Vz2, and since Vx2 = Vy2 = Vz2, therefore V2 = 3Vx2

• Therefore: Vx2 = 1/3 V2

1
Nmv 2
P= 3

Vol

1
P = ρv 2
3

• Where v2 represent the average or mean square speed of the molecules.

3P
v=
ρ

N.B.:

• Impulse Iimp = F∆t

∆PL′
• F=
∆t

• Iimp = F∆t = ∆PL’ = 2 mvx

The Scientific Concept of Temperature:

The number of molecules in one mole of any gas is constant and called

Avogadro’s number (NA = 6.023x1023 molecules)

Macroscopic theory Microscopic theory

For any amount of gas

PV = nRt PV = 1/3 Nm v2

For one mole of gas

N = NA

Summary 2008/2009
 Unit three -75- Chapter seven

n=1

PV = Rt PV = 1/3 NAmv2

1/3 NAmv2 = Rt

NAmv2 = 3 Rt
3Rt
mv 2 =
NA

mv2 = 3 Kt

(where K called poltzmann constant)

Kinetic energy Temperature

3Kt
½ mv2 = 3/2 Kt v2 =
m
3Kt
K.E = 3/2 Kt v2 =
m

K.E depends on temperature only Velocity depends on temperature and

mass of molecule (kind of matter)

Where:

• R is called Universal molar gas constant (R = 8.31 Nm/ K)

R
• K is called Boaltzmann constant. K = (K = 1.38 x 10-23
NA

J/K)

Glossary:

Density:
Nm
ρ=
V
Pressure:
1 2
P= ρv
3

Temperature:

Summary 2008/2009
 Unit three -76- Chapter seven

3
K .E = KT
2

Root mean square speed:

3P
v=
ρ

3KT
v=
m
3KT
v=
 M Mole 
 
 N A 

3RT
v=
M mole

N.B.:

• One mole of any gas occupies 22.4 liter at NPT

• It is possible for two gases to occupy the same volume at the same time.

• The total pressure of two gases at the same container is the summation of

the pressure of each gas.

Summary 2008/2009