Blundell Thermal Physics · Problem 8.1

The mean free path and collisions

Physics — Statistical Mechanics · mean-free-path-ultra-high-vacuum

Problem

What is the mean free path of an N2_2 molecule in an ultra-high-vacuum chamber at a pressure of 10−1010^{-10} mbar? What is the mean collision time? The chamber has a diameter of 0.5 m. On average, how many collisions will the molecule make with the chamber walls compared with collisions with other molecules? If the pressure is suddenly raised to 10−610^{-6} mbar, how do these results change?

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