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A short note on Mean Free Path

We will learn about the mean free path in this article. We will learn how to measure it, its derivation and formula and understand where it is applied in real-life scenarios.

Mean free path is distance gone by a moving molecule between progressive crashes or effects, and it is estimated on a normal. Continuous impacts adjust the energy and heading of a flying molecule and other available molecule properties. To specify a couple of models, a particle, a molecule, and a photon are generally occasions of moving particles. It is important for radiography to have a mean free course for the pencil light to emit energetic photons for it to be compelling. This likewise suggests that the freeway is affected by both the material’s qualities and the energy of the photons, which is a significant highlight recollect.

 

How do we Measure the Mean Free Path?

We should view the movement of a gas particle inside an optimal gas. Moreover, a normal atom in an ideal gas will unexpectedly move its direction and speed. This is because it crashes into different particles in similar gas versatilely.

It’s difficult to quantify the irregular portability of gas atoms. Therefore, one should endeavour to ascertain its mean way λ.

The image λ addresses an atom’s normal distance between crashes. Besides, one can expect λ to change conversely with N/V, which is the number of particles per unit volume or the sub-atomic thickness.

Let us briefly think about a gas particle’s movement inside an optimal gas to outline this. Besides, in an ideal gas, the direction and speed of a conventional particle will be significantly different, which is a welcome addition. It achieves this impact due to how it slams into different particles in similar gas in a versatile way when it does as such.

In a research facility setting, deciding the irregular versatility of gas atoms might be hard to do. To decide its without mean free path λ, it is expected to take a stab at it.

The normal distance between crashes between two atoms is addressed by the image λ, which means this distance is all things considered. Likewise, it is sensible to anticipate that λ will vacillate the other way of N/V, which is the number of atoms per unit volume or the sub-atomic thickness.

 

The formula of Mean Free Path

Mathematically, representation of the mean free path can take place as follows:

λ = Average of all free paths. First, calculate all free paths by calculating the shortest distance of the two points.

 

Derivation of the Formula of Mean Free Path

The derivation will utilise certain presumptions in the situation’s inference. Accept that the particle is round. An impact happens when one atom crashes into another. Besides, the accentuation is on the moving atom while the others stay fixed.

Expect that a solitary atom has a distance across d. Look at how a solitary atom might move through a gas.

Thus, a short chamber will be cleared out. This little chamber’s cross-segment region is πd2.

It will travel a distance of vt for time t between resulting crashes. The speed of the particle is v for this situation. Most quite, clearing this chamber would bring about a volume of πd2*vt.

Doubtlessly, N/V addresses the number of atoms per unit volume. Subsequently, the number of atoms in the chamber will be equivalent to N/V duplicated by the volume of the chamber, coming about in d2vt for the chamber. Accordingly, the induction of the mean freeway might be achieved in the accompanying ways:

 

λ = length of path during the time t/number of collision in timer 

 

The above equation approximates to vtddN/V

 

As found in the above condition, the wiping out of two speeds has happened. Besides, the worth of v in the numerator mirrors the normal speed, while the worth of v in the denominator addresses the relative speed. So there is a contrast between the two by an element of (sqrt2) between the two figures.

In particular, the last condition is,

λ = 12d2NV

 

 

Conclusion

 The mean free path is related to the following variables in an inverse proportional manner:

A high density of numbers (number of molecules per unit volume)

The total size of the molecule.

The impact volume is characterised as the volume cleared by a particle in a specific measure of time during which some other atom will crash into it. It is essential for radiography to have a mean freeway for the pencil light to emit fiery photons for it to be viable. This likewise infers that the freeway is affected by both the material’s attributes and the energy of the photons, which is a significant highlight recollect.

 
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