University Physics III · Thermodynamics and kinetic theory
Mean collision time from mean free path
Problem
Nitrogen at $300\,\mathrm K$ has mean free path $67.2\,\mathrm{nm}$. Approximate its mean molecular speed by $\bar v=\sqrt{8RT/(\pi M)}$ with $M=28.0\times10^{-3}\,\mathrm{kg\,mol^{-1}}$. Estimate the mean time between collisions and collision frequency.
Hint
Compute the mean molecular speed with the molar mass in SI units.
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