Mean Free Path & Real Gases
An ideal gas in a closed container is slowly heated. As its temperature increases, which of the following statements are true?
(A) the mean free path of the molecules decreases.
(B) the mean collision time between the molecules decreases.
(C) the mean free path remains unchanged.
(D) the mean collision time remains unchanged.
Show answer and solution
Answer: (c)
- Closed container: number density is fixed, so remains unchanged; (C) true, (A) false.
- Mean collision time ; increases with , so decreases; (B) true, (D) false.
- So the answer is (c) (B) and (C).