Kinetic Model of an Ideal Gas

3.2.9

Define pressure.

Force per unit area; measured in Pascals (Pa) - Newtons per square meter
Gas pressure an average pressure from molecular collisions with the
container walls

3.2.10 State the assumptions of the kinetic model of an ideal gas.

1. A gas is an assembly of a large number of particles in random translational
motion.
2. The particles are separated from one another by distances which are large
compared to their actual sizes; as a result, intermolecular forces are
negligible.
3. The volume of particles is negligible; they are effectively points in space
4. Their speeds differ, and they move about in random directions
5. The particles are continually colliding with one another and with the
container walls; these collisions are elastic as there is no loss of E k.
6. The duration of collisions is very small.

3.2.11 State that temperature is a measure of the average random kinetic energy of
the molecules of an ideal gas

Macroscopic temperature is a consequence of the kinetic energy of the

particles.
Macroscopic gas pressure arises from particle collisions with container
surfaces.

3.2.12 Explain the macroscopic behaviour of an ideal gas in terms of a molecular

model.

The macroscopic gas laws do not explain why gases behave as they do. The
microscopic model explains this in terms of the aggregate behaviour of
moving gas particles, which obey the fundamental laws of mechanics and
give rise statistically to the observed gas behaviour.
Gas pressure increases as temperature increases due to faster molecular
motion, resulting in more numerous collisions with the container surface,
each of a greater force.
Pressure increases as volume decreases due to more numerous collisions with
the container surface.