How Do Gases Reach Equilibrium in Partitioned Containers?

[FourierX]

Homework Statement

A box is separated by a partition which divides its volume in the ratio 3:1. The larger portion of the box contains 1000 molecules of Neon gas, the smaller one contains 100 molecules of He gas. A small hole is made in the partition, and one waits until equilibrium is obtained.

Find the mean number of molecules of each type on either side of the partition.

Homework Equations

Basic statistical and probability concept.

The Attempt at a Solution

At equilibrium, maintaining the volume ratio

the mean number of molecules of Ne in bigger partition = 750
the mean number of molecules of Ne in smaller partition = 250
the mean number of molecules of He in bigger partition = 25
the mean number of molecules of He in smaller partition = 75

That is what i ended up with. Any comments or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.


Gilchrist

 

[lanedance]

hi gilchrist

Ne makes sense, but I wonder why 75% of HE is in the small box, I would have thought everything would be distributed evenly at equilibirum...

 

[FourierX]

actually, you are right ! I typed the wrong information. My bad.

Thank you :)