The mean free path of air at room temperature of 69.8 °F and an atmospheric pressure of 101325 Pa is 3.61 × 10⁻⁷ m.
What is the mean free path?
The mean free path (λ) is an average distance over which a moving particle substantially changes its direction or energy, typically as a result of one or more successive collisions with other particles.
Assuming air is mostly nitrogen, we can calculate the mean free path using the following formula derived from the kinetic theory.
λ = (R × T) / (√2 × π × d² × NA × P)
λ = [(8.314 J/mol.K) × 294.15 K] / [√2 × π × (1.58 × 10⁻¹⁰ m)² × (6.022 × 10²³ mol⁻¹) × 101325 Pa]
λ = 3.61 × 10⁻⁷ m
where,
- R is the ideal gas constant.
- T is the absolute temperature (room temperature).
- d is the diameter of nitrogen gas.
- P is the atmospheric pressure.
The mean free path of air at room temperature of 69.8 °F and an atmospheric pressure of 101325 Pa is 3.61 × 10⁻⁷ m.
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