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Temperature
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Describe the Maxwell-Boltzmann energy
distribution curve.
Draw and explain qualitatively MaxwellBoltzmann energy distribution curves for
different temperatures.
Temp  KE
• Recall from KMT that temperature is a
measure of the average kinetic energy of
the molecules in a gas.
– (KE)avg = 3/2 RT
• Were R is the ideal gas constant and T is
temperature in Kelvin
• Boltzmann used statistics to explain
macroscopic observations.
Boltzmann
• Many scientists did not believe in his work
• publicly stated that he was wrong.
• Didn’t believe math describing motion of
particles would predic macroscopic
properties.
• Unfortunatelycommitted suicide before
discoveries relating to quantum mechanics
“proved” his theories correct.
Maxwell-Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution for a gas
at various temperatures Boltzmann
• The graph shows
probability that a particular
molecule has a given
speed (and thus kinetic
energy …KE= 1/2mv2 )
• At a given temperature,
molecules have range of
speeds/KE
• At higher T, most probable
speed increases, as
expected.
• At higher T the more
spread out the distribution