- #1
karen_lorr
- 63
- 0
Can anyone explain the physics behind the Le Chatelier principle ?
I know the gas will expand to fill an area but why ?
If I have a box full of air (just normal air) and I enlarge the box without allowing any more air in, the air will spread out to fill the larger box. What starts this movement and why would this be so ?
What is the cause of the movement of gas from one area of higher pressure to the next of lower pressure until the pressure is equal ? I do understand that it happens but not "why" it happens - something must "tell" the molecules to move and spread out ?
Is it some form of molecular dipole repulsion, or something else (that was just a guess by the way ;-)
I have found lots of "laws" that say that this will happen, but none of these gives the reason - just the fact that it does.
Or if anyone has a link to a webpage that gives the reason it would be very kind.
Thank you
I know the gas will expand to fill an area but why ?
If I have a box full of air (just normal air) and I enlarge the box without allowing any more air in, the air will spread out to fill the larger box. What starts this movement and why would this be so ?
What is the cause of the movement of gas from one area of higher pressure to the next of lower pressure until the pressure is equal ? I do understand that it happens but not "why" it happens - something must "tell" the molecules to move and spread out ?
Is it some form of molecular dipole repulsion, or something else (that was just a guess by the way ;-)
I have found lots of "laws" that say that this will happen, but none of these gives the reason - just the fact that it does.
Or if anyone has a link to a webpage that gives the reason it would be very kind.
Thank you