Problem 21.

4 (A) At an altitude of
20 km the temperature is 217 K
and the pressure 0.050 atm. What
is the mean free path of N2
molecules? (σ = 0.43 nm2.)
Given:
T = 217 K
P = 0.050 atm
σ = 0.43 nm-2
Required:
λ (mean free path)
Formula:
λ=
Solution:
P = 0.050 atm (101.325 kPa atm-1)
= 5.066 x 103 Pa
σ = 0.43 nm-2 = 0.43 x 10-18 m2

λ=

= 9.7 x10-7 m