Concept Map

This unit's concept map is rooted at 'Kinetic theory of gases' and branches out to show how every result in the chapter connects back to the same molecular picture. One branch runs from the origin of pressure to the origin of temperature (kinetic interpretation), which in turn feeds the three characteristic speeds -- RMS speed, mean speed, and most probable speed -- which together define the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution function. A second branch runs from degrees of freedom to the law of equipartition of energy and on to the specific heat of a gas. A third, separate branch covers mean free path and Brownian motion. Reading the map top to bottom traces the logical order this unit actually followed: starting from molecular collisions, building up pressure and temperature, then the characteristic speeds …