Unit - I [Type the document title]

Session – 04

Mean Free Path ( λ):

According to the kinetic theory of
gases, the gas molecules are in a continuous
state of motion in all directions. During their
motion, they collide against each other as
well as against the wall of the container.
After each collision, there is a change in
directions and the magnitude of their speeds.

Hence the paths of single molecule

consists of short zig zag path as shown in figure. Such a motion is called Brownian motion.
This is illustrated in the figure. A molecule starting from A and moving along AB collides
the molecules at B. Its direction as well as the magnitude of the speed is changed. It travels
a distance BC and suffers a collision at C again and moves along CD. This process
continues. This distance AB , BC , CD , … … … are straight lines but different in lengths.

The distances between two collisions are called free paths of the molecule and their
average distance is called mean free path.

The average distance travelled by a gas molecules between two successive collisions
is called the mean free path and denoted by λ.

If the individual paths are λ 1 , λ2 , λ3 , … … etc. If D is the total path travelled in N

collisions i.e., D= λ1 + λ2 + λ 3+ … … …+ λn then mean free path is given by,

D
λ=
N

Clausius Expression for mean free path:

Consider a gas consisting of number of molecules.
Assume that all the molecules are at rest except one
molecule of a diameter ' d '. A collision takes place if the
distance between the centres of two molecules is d.

Imagine a cylinder of radius d which is equal to the

diameter of a moving molecule. When it moves along the
axis of the cylinder, it collides against all the static
molecules that lie within this cylinder.

The volume of the cylinder through which the

molecules moves in one second is given by,

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Unit - I [Type the document title]

¿ π d 2 C ave

C ave ⟶ average velocity of the molecule the number of molecules in unit volume.

The number of molecules whose centres are incident in the cylinder

¿ π d 2 C ave n ⟶ ( 1 )

n ⟶ number of molecules in unit volume. Equation (1) gives the number of

collisions per second.

Distance travelled∈one second

Mean free path ( λ ) =
No. of collisions ∈one second

C ave
¿
π d 2 Cave n

1
λ= ⟶ (2)
π d2 n

1
Now , λ ∝
d2

Thus, the mean free path is inversely proportional to the square of the diameter of a
molecule.

If m be the mass of each molecule, then density of the gas

ρ
mn=ρ ∴ n=
m

Substituting in the equation (2) we get

1
λ=
ρ
π d2
m

m
λ= ⟶ (3)
π d2 ρ

1
i. e ., λ ∝
ρ

From above relation, mean free path is inversely proportional to the density of a gas
and hence inversely proportional to the pressure of the gas.

Maxwell’s on the basis of law of distribution of velocities calculated

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Unit - I [Type the document title]
1
λ= 2
⟶ ( 4)
π d n √2

Determination of mean free path:

We know that coefficient of viscosity η is given by

1
η= mnC ave λ
3

1
¿ ρ Cave λ ( ρ=mndensity of the gas )
3

3η
∴= λ=
ρ Cave

The value of η can be determined experimentally and with the known values of ρ
and C ave λ can be calculated.

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