Physics

Kinetic Particle Theory

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 What is Matter?
 Matter is anything that has mass and occupies space
 Matter can exist in 3 states: solid, liquid, gas

Solid Liquid Gas

Has definite volume Has definite volume No definite volume as it
entirely fills its container

Has definite shape No definite shape, takes No definite shape, takes

the shape of its container the shape of the whole
container
Usually hard and rigid Can flow Can flow
Not compressible Not compressible Compressible
 Kinetic Theory of Matter
 To explain why the 3 states of matter behave the way they do
 Based on the following assumptions
 All matter is made up of a large number of small particles -
atoms or molecules
 The small particles are always in continuous random motion or
vibration
 The higher the temperature, the faster the particles move
 The inter-particle collisions are perfectly elastic  means that
both the kinetic energy and momentum are conserved in the
collisions
 Kinetic Theory of Matter
 The continuous random motion of the particles in the
different states of matter is shown by Brownian motion and
diffusion
 Brownian motion is the random motion of gaseous and
liquid molecules

Random motion of particles

 Kinetic Theory of Matter
 Diffusion is the process by which
different kinds of matter in the same or
different states mix with one another
due to the random movements of the
particles in the matter
 Diffusion occurs fastest in gases and
slowest in solids
 Factors affecting diffusion rate
 Rate of diffusion increase with
temperature
 Rate of diffusion is inversely
proportional to the square root of its
density
Solid, Liquid, Gas
 Molecular model of the 3 states of matter
Solids Liquids Gases
Solid molecules arranges in a Liquid molecules are not Gas molecules are not arranged
regular pattern known as a lattice arranged in any particular in any particular pattern
(definite shape and volume) pattern (no definite shape)
(no definite shape)

The attractive intermolecular The weaker intermolecular The intermolecular forces are
forces are very strong and are forces cannot hold molecules in negligible so molecules can
able to hold molecules in fixed fixed positions. Molecules move move freely (can flow easily and
positions among one another (can flow) completely fill the container)

Molecules are very close to one Molecules are slightly further Molecules are very far apart
another (not compressible) away from one another than in from one another. They can
solids (not compressible) easily move closer to one
another (easily compressible)

Molecules only vibrate about Molecules rotate and translate Molecules rotate and translate
their fixed positions (cannot randomly (can flow and diffuse randomly and freely (can flow
flow and diffuse slowly) faster) and diffuse faster than liquids)
Change of States
 Pressure-Volume relationship of
a gas
 Randomly moving gas particles collide with one another and with
the inner walls of the container
 The collisions produce forces
 The force acting on each unit of the inner walls is the gas pressure
exerted on it
 When the volume of gas is halved by halving the volume of its
container, the number of molecules per unit volume in the
container will be doubled.
 The number of collisions between the gas molecules and the inner
walls will double the force produced
 Hence, the force acting on each unit area of the inner walls (gas
pressure) will be doubled
 Boyle’s Law
 This relationship between pressure and volume of a gas at
constant temperature and fixed mass is stated in Boyle’s
Law:
 For a fixed mass of gas at constant temperature, the pressure is
inversely proportional to its volume.
 Example Question
A tyre contains 1500cm3 of air at pressure p. The volume of air in the
pump is 500cm3 at the same pressure p. what will be the pressure in
the tyre after one stroke of the pump, assuming the volume of the tyre
and the temperature of the air do not change?

Solution

p1: original pressure of air

p2: pressure of air in the tyre after one stroke of the pump
v1: total volume of air in the tyre and pump
v2: volume of air in the tyre after one stroke of the pump
p1 x (1500 + 500) = p2 x 1500
p2 = 4/3p1