All Problems

Kinetic theory of gases. Boltzmanns Law and Maxwell distribution

Problem 2.105

A tall vertical vessel contains a gas composed of two kinds of molecules of masses m1m_{1} and m2,m_{2}, with m2>m1.m_{2}>m_{1} . The concentrations of these molecules at the bottom of the vessel are equal to n1n_{1} and n2n_{2} respectively, with n2>n1n_{2}>n_{1}. Assuming the temperature TT and the free-fall acceleration gg to be independent of the height, find the height at which the concentrations of these kinds of molecules are equal.

Reveal Answer
h=kTln(n2/n1)(m2m1)gh=\frac{k T \ln \left(n_{2} / n_{1}\right)}{\left(m_{2}-m_{1}\right) g}