Solution
Related Formula
λ = kB T√(2) π σ² Pwhere, λ = mean free path kB = Boltzmann constant T = absolute temperature in Kelvin σ = diameter of the molecule P = pressure of the gas
Step 1: Extract and Convert Given Data
d = σ = 5 × 10⁻¹⁰ m T = 41^ = 273 + 41 = 314 K P = 1.38 × 10⁵ Pa kB = 1.38 × 10⁻²³ J/K
Step 2: Substitution and Calculation
λ = 1.38 × 10⁻²³ × 314√(2) × π × (5 × 10⁻¹⁰)² × 1.38 × 10⁵Cancel out 1.38 from numerator and denominator:
λ = 10⁻²³ × 314√(2) × 3.14 × 25 × 10⁻²⁰ × 10⁵ λ = 314 × 10⁻²³√(2) × 3.14 × 25 × 10⁻¹⁵ λ = 100 × 10⁻²³√(2) × 25 × 10⁻¹⁵ λ = 4 × 10⁻⁸√(2) = 2√(2) × 10⁻⁸ mPattern Recognition
The temperature 314 K and π ≈ 3.14 are intentionally matched to cancel out and give a factor of 100. 1.38 cancels completely. The rest is simply handling powers of 10.
Chapter Mix
Class 11 Physics: Kinetic Theory