Science 123
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Spring 2020
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Kinetic Molecular Theory
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The Postulates of the Kinetic Molecular Theory:
- Gases are composed of a large number of particles that behave like hard, spherical
objects in a state of constant, random motion.
- These particles move in a straight line until they collide with another particle or the
walls of the container.
- These particles are much smaller than the distance between particles. Most of the volume
of a gas is therefore empty space.
- There is no force of attraction between gas particles or between the particles and the
walls of the container.
- Collisions between gas particles or collisions with the walls of the container are
perfectly elastic. None of the energy of a gas particle is lost when it collides with
another particle or with the walls of the container.
- The average kinetic energy of a collection of gas particles depends on the temperature
of the gas and nothing else.