Kinetic Theory of Gases: In 1866, Maxwell formulated, independently from Ludwig Boltzmann, the Maxwell-Boltzmann kinetic theory of gases.

His formula was called the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution and described particle (molecule) velocity i n gases at any given temperature. According to Maxwell's kinetic theory, tempera tures and heat are related only to molecular movement. This approach clarified a nd simplified the previous laws of thermodynamics by interpreting observations i n a simpler way. As a result of his work on thermodynamics he suggested a though t experiment known as Maxwell's demon which demonstrated his views regarding the Second Law of Thermodynamics. Maxwell's demon is a thought experiment created by the Scottish physicist James Clerk Maxwell to "show that the Second Law of Thermodynamics has only a statisti cal certainty."[1] It demonstrates Maxwell's point by hypothetically describing how to violate the Second Law: A container is divided into two parts by an insul ated wall, with a door that can be opened and closed by what came to be called " Maxwell's demon". The demon opens the door to allow only the "hot" molecules of gas to flow through to a favored side of the chamber, causing that side to gradu ally heat up while the other side cools down, thus decreasing entropy.