# Percentage error in Maxwellian distribution.

1. Jun 1, 2016

### debjit625

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
In computing the average kinetic energy of a molecule obeying Maxwellian distribution one use the formula ½mc2 .Calculate the percentage error incurred in the calculation.
3. The attempt at a solution
Here c is the average velocity of a molecule obeying Maxwellian distribution which I can calculate which is √(8KT/πm), but I have no idea how to calculate the percentage error so no attempt has been made.

Thanks

2. Jun 1, 2016

### BvU

Hello debjit,

What equation did you use to calculate the average kinetic energy ?
Do you know the equation for the standard deviation ?

3. Jun 1, 2016

### debjit625

I used Maxwell's velocity distribution to compute average or mean speed

Maxwell's velocity distribution
dNc = 4πN(m/2πkT)3/2e-(mc2/2kT)c2dc

From this I computed the average or mean speed
c' = 1/N ( o cdNc)

c' = √(8kT/πm)

"Do you know the equation for the standard deviation ?"
Well I am not very much good at the statistical part ,so if you kindly explain it it will be very helpful.

Thanks

4. Jun 1, 2016

### BvU

Well, you can always look it up ...
usually you do something like $<x^2> - <x>^2$, so you're halfway already