IB Physics HL B.3.6 Molecular pressure model
IB Physics HL B.3.6 Molecular pressure model
Explain gas pressure from molecular motion by linking wall collisions, momentum change and kinetic energy to what happens macroscopically.
How this is tested
- use Newton's third law to explain how wall collisions reverse momentum and create pressure on the wall
- at constant volume, link higher temperature to greater average kinetic energy and larger force per impact
- apply `pV=2NEk/3` or a rearrangement to find pressure from molecule number, volume and kinetic energy