Kinetic Gas Equation Derivation

What Is Kinetic Theory of Gases?

The kinetic theory of gases describes a gas as a large number of submicroscopic particles such as
atoms and molecules, all of which are in random and constant motion. The randomness arises
from the particles’ collisions with each other and with the walls of the container.

Derivation of Kinetic Gas Equation

Consider a cubical container of length ‘l ’ filled with gas molecules each having mass ‘m’ and
let N be the total number of gas molecules in the container. Due to the influence of temperature,
the gas molecules move in random directions with a velocity ‘v.’

The pressure of the gas molecules is the force exerted by the gas molecule per unit area of the
wall of the container and is given by the equation

Let us consider a gas molecule moving in the x-direction towards face A. The molecule hits the wall
with a velocity Vx and rebounds back with the same velocity Vx, and will experience a change of
momentum which is equal to

For a total of N number of gas molecules in the container, the total change in momentum is given
by

The force is given by the equation

Therefore,

Gas molecules will hit the wall A and will travel back across the box, collide with the opposite face
and hit face A again after a time t which is given by the equation

Substituting the value of t in the force equation, we get the force on the molecules as

Therefore, the force exerted on the wall is

.
Now, the pressure P is given by the equation

Hence,

Since vx, vy and vZ are independent speeds in three directions and if we consider the gas
molecules in bulk, then
We know, volume V = l3
Hence,

Substituting the above condition in eq (1), we get

Therefore,

This equation above is known as the kinetic theory equation.

The velocity v in the kinetic gas equation is known as the root-mean-square velocity and is given by
the equation

We use this equation to calculate the root-mean-square velocity of gas molecules at any given
temperature and pressure

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Also, Read

Derivation of Biot Savart’s Law Derivation of Lens Formula

Derivation of Equation of Motion Stoke’s Law Derivation

Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs

Q1 What is the kinetic theory of gases?
The kinetic theory of gases describes a gas as a large number of submicroscopic particles
such as atoms and molecules, all of which are in random and constant motion. The
randomness arises from the particles’ collisions with each other and with the walls of the
container.

Q2 What are the assumptions of kinetic theory?

Following are the assumptions of kinetic gas theory:
The molecules do not interact with each other.
The collision of molecules with themselves or walls will be an elastic collision.
The momentum is conserved.
Kinetic energy will be conserved.

Q3 What is the ideal gas law?

 The ideal gas law states that the product of the pressure and the volume of one gram
molecule of an ideal gas is equal to the product of the absolute temperature of the gas and the
universal gas constant.

Q4 Why is the ideal gas inaccurate

The ideal gas only holds true when the conditions at consideration are ideal. Under high
pressure and low temperature, the molecular size and the intermolecular forces become
important to be considered and are no longer negligible, so essentially the ideal gas law won’t
work.

Q5 Who derived the ideal gas equation?

Benoît Paul Émile Clapeyron derived the ideal gas.