Question

Which place has a higher mean free path of air particles, the beach in San Diego or on the top of Mount Whitney?

Answer 1

To answer this question, let me first tell you about mean free path: Mean free path is defined as the ratio of average speed of a molecule to the number of collision suffered by a molecule per second. Mean free pathrax = Mean free pathox average speed Collisim frequency 52. 11. 2.0?n 12.7.62.2 xath where x = sumber density x & I So we can say mean free path is directly proportional to temperatrol, T and inverly to pressure, P. Io son Diego, T is very high as compare to Mount whitney. but pressure is San Diego beach is almost double to that of Mount whitney. So for Mount whitney temperature is low and pressure is very low. As a result the value of x becomes high here. So mean free path of gas molecule is lights in Mount Whitney tham San Diego beach

Now let me clear with today's wheather repost: Today : Temperaturse of san diego = 176 = 290k and pressure = 1 atm . . I a 290 x 290 Agam , Tempestrol of Mount whitary --56 = 268K and pressmal = 0.62 atom 7 m.w & I a 268 & 432 268 M.W 0.62 . From numerical calculation also you will find mean free path of gas molecules is high in Mount whitney