Kinetic Theory
- The kinetic theory developed in the 18th century out of a need to explain how it is that gases exert pressure inside a container
- Theories about gas particles and movement were extended to include all states of matter
- The kinetic theory of matter accounts for the properties of solids, liquids, and gases in terms of the interactions of particles and their relative energies
Summary Table of the Kinetic Theory
- The average kinetic energy of the particles is directly proportional to the temperature of the system in Kelvin
- Kinetic energy refers to the energy associated with movement or motion. It is determined by the mass and velocity of the substance according to the relationship:
KE = ½mv2
- As the kinetic energy of the particles at the same temperature is equal, this means there is an inverse relationship between mass and velocity
- This is why substances with a lower mass diffuse more quickly than those with greater mass at the same temperature