Postulates of Kinetic Theory of Gases

Postulates of Kinetic Theory of Gases:

The basic postulates of Kinetic Theory of gases are as under

1. A gas contains a very large number of particles called molecules. Depending on the gases each molecule consists of an atom or a group of atoms.

2. A finite volume of a gas consists of very large number of molecules. This assumption is justified by experiments. At standard conditions there are 3 x 10^25 molecules per cubic meter.

3. The size of the molecules is much smaller than separation between molecules; it is about 3 x 10^-10m.

4. The molecules move in all directions with various speeds collide elastically with one another and with the walls of the container.

5. The molecules exert no forces on one another except during collisions. In the absence of the external forces, they move freely in straight lines.

6. Laws of mechanics/Newtonian Laws are assumed to be applicable to the motion of molecules.