What Are Gases Made Of?

This theory models gases as ideal gases, assuming particles are point-like and interactions are limited to elastic collisions. It links microscopic dynamics to macroscopic properties like pressure and viscosity.

Using statistical methods, the theory calculates the average kinetic energy of particles. It accounts for translational, rotational, and vibrational motions, providing a framework for transport properties like thermal conductivity.

It serves as the basis for statistical mechanics. It allows for the prediction of gas behavior in various conditions, from simple containers to complex fluid dynamics.

From early atomistic ideas by Lucretius to Bernoulli’s 1738 work, the theory evolved through the 19th century. Maxwell and Boltzmann introduced statistical laws, and Einstein later validated these ideas through his work on Brownian motion.

The Chapman-Enskog theory, derived from this model, is used to predict transport properties in dense gases, which is essential for modern engineering and aerospace applications.