Labs / Physics
Kinetic Theory Box
Hundreds of molecules are bouncing elastically inside this box, and the histogram on the right tallies how fast they are going. Turn the temperature up or down and watch the whole Maxwell–Boltzmann curve slide and stretch. Drag inside the box to stir the gas and heat it with your own hand.
avg speed 0 m/sT 0 Kpressure 0 kPa
What to try
- Crank the temperature up. Which way does the peak of the speed curve move — and does it get taller or shorter?
- At any single temperature, are all the molecules moving at the same speed, or is there a whole spread of them?
- Tag one molecule and follow its path. Can you predict where it will be a second from now?
- Add hundreds more particles without touching the temperature. What happens to the pressure, and why?
- Drag your pointer through the gas to stir it. Where does that energy go once you let go?