Maxwell–Boltzmann distribution
Gives the probability density of the speeds v of molecules in an ideal gas at thermodynamic equilibrium with absolute temperature T. It is used to describe how molecular speeds are spread out in a gas of particles with mass m.
f(v) = 4\pi \left(\frac{m}{2\pi k T}\right)^{3/2} v^2 e^{-\frac{m v^2}{2 k T}}What the symbols mean
| probability density of molecular speed v (per unit speed) | |
| molecular speed, \mathrm{m/s} | |
| mass of a single molecule, \mathrm{kg} | |
| Boltzmann constant, \mathrm{J/K} | |
| absolute temperature, \mathrm{K} |
About this formula
- FieldPhysics
- TopicStatistical mechanics
- LevelUniversity
- Also calledMaxwell distribution, speed distribution of ideal gas, Maxwell-Boltzmann speed distribution, molecular speed distribution, probability density of molecular speeds, Maxwell speed distribution
- SourceWikidata Q634965
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