Outline the basic assumptions/postulates of kinetic theory of gases.
The important assumptions/postulates of kinetic theory of gases are:
(i) A gas consists of a large number of identical molecules of mass m. The dimensions of these molecules are very-very small as compared to the space between them. Hence the molecules are treated as point masses.
(ii) The molecules of a gas are always in a state of zig-zag motion. They collide with one another and with the walls of the containing vessel. The direction of motion and speed of the molecules change continuously.
(iii) The collisions between the gas molecules are perfectly elastic i.e. there is no loss of energy during these collisions.
(iv) There are practically no attractive forces between the molecules. The molecules, therefore, move independently.
(v) The pressure of the gas is the result of collisions of molecules with the walls of the container.
(vi) The average kinetic energy of the colliding molecules is directly proportional to its absolute temperature.
In view of those assumptions, the above model of a gas is called Kinetic Gas Model or Dynamic Particle Model.