Blundell Thermal Physics · Problem 7.2

Molecular effusion

Physics — Statistical Mechanics · effusion-mean-kinetic-energy-temperature

Problem

A vessel contains a monatomic gas at temperature TT. Use the Maxwell–Boltzmann distribution of speeds to calculate the mean kinetic energy of the molecules. Molecules of the gas stream through a small hole into a vacuum. A box is opened for a short time and catches some of the molecules. Neglecting the thermal capacity of the box, calculate the final temperature of the gas trapped in the box.

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