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what is maxwell's distibution?

what is maxwell's distibution?

Grade:12

1 Answers

Badiuddin askIITians.ismu Expert
148 Points
14 years ago

Dear pramod

If we say that rms speed of the molecule is 480 m/sec  .it does not mean that alll molecues have speed equal to 480 m/sec

some may have speed greater than this and some may have speed less than 480 m/sec

so maxevell derived a equation which give a relation between number of molecules(dN) lies between speed v and v+dv

dN =4∏N(m/2∏kT)1/2 v2 e -mv2/2kT   

On plotting a fraction of molecules having different speeds against the speeds of the molecules (along x-axis) a curve known as Maxwell's distribution curve is obtained. The important features of which are:

1.The fraction of molecules with very low or very high speeds is very small.

2. The fraction of molecules possessing higher and higher speeds goes on increasing till it reaches a peak and then starts decreasing.

3.The maximum fraction of molecules possess a speed, corresponding to the peak in the curve which is referred to as most probable speed.

 

6683-1418_7662_maxwell-boltzmann-s-distribution-speeds.gif

 

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Badiuddin

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