31 questions linked to/from Visualising gas temperature and gas pressure
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The imagined scenario: Part A: From special relativity we know that velocity is a relative physical quantity, that is, it is dependent on the frame of reference of choice. This means that kinetic ...
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### How do we tell which part of kinetic energy gives rise to temperature?

I know that macroscopic temperature is a measure of kinetic energy of particles at very low scales (let's call it microscopic kinetic energy). But how can we derive which part of this microscopic ...
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### What is the correct relativistic distribution function?

General Statement and Questions I am trying to figure out the proper way to model a velocity/momentum distribution function that is correct in the relativistic limit. I would like to determine/know ...
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### Why are ions and electrons at different temperatures in a plasma?

In plasmas, the collision rate among ions or electrons is much larger than the collision rate between ions and electrons. Why is that so?
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### Why in plasma physics usually is given the refractive index of electrons but not for ions?

What is the refraction index of ions in plasma ? And why people do not discuss it in books ? Is it that it is not important for plasma phenomena ?
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### Maxwell velocity distribution, in 1D or otherwise

I learned from my textbook that Maxwell's velocity distribution gives: $$v_{rms} =\sqrt{\frac{3kT}{m}}$$ $$v_{avg} = \sqrt{\frac{8kT}{\pi m}}$$ Presumably this is for a three dimensions. This confuses ...
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### Differences between thermal and non-thermal plasmas

I have a doubt about plasmas which may as well be trivial or very stupid, but I couldn't get a clear and straightforward answer anywhere I looked, and I can't get the grasp of it since I wasn't given ...
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### What defines a cold plasma?

Been looking for this very simple answer for a while now, and google returns a face cream with the words cold plasma in it. Very frustrated. Just wondering, what constitutes a cold plasma in the ...
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### Why is the average thermal velocity 0?

Thermal velocity is the velocity of the free electron due to their random motion. So how is the average value 0?
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### Navier-Stokes Energy Equation

I've been assigned (for homework in a mathematical modelling course) the task of deriving the Navier-Stokes energy equation in one space dimension: Consider a fluid flowing through a cylindrical ...
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### Limitations of the ideal gas law: When does it fail?

Motivation I ask this question precisely because I am looking for a fundamental, quantitative explanation of the limitations of the ideal gas law and when it should not be used. Note, I have found ...
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### Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution for transport equations

I have to calculate the transport coefficients for the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution. But I'm not sure what distribution I have to use. As far as I know it should not be the MB distribution for $v$-...
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### How to get the moments of the Boltzmann equation?

I'm currently reading through a hydrodynamics lecture course and I'm confused at some of the key integrals that are derived. These integrals aid in deriving the moments of the Boltzmann equation. ...