Velocity distribution of evaporating water molecules

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The velocity distribution of evaporating H2O molecules cannot be described by a Maxwellian distribution due to the nature of molecular interactions during evaporation. The discussion references several academic papers that explore the complexities of this phenomenon, indicating that evaporation does not involve elastic interactions typical of Maxwellian distributions. Key questions arise regarding whether the evaporation process constitutes a two-particle interaction, which directly impacts the distribution of the evaporating molecules.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of molecular dynamics and interactions
  • Familiarity with statistical mechanics concepts
  • Knowledge of the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution
  • Basic principles of thermodynamics related to phase changes
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the implications of non-elastic interactions in molecular evaporation
  • Study the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution and its applications
  • Explore the concept of two-particle interactions in thermodynamic processes
  • Investigate alternative models for velocity distributions in evaporating systems
USEFUL FOR

Researchers in physical chemistry, physicists studying molecular dynamics, and anyone interested in the thermodynamic properties of phase changes in water molecules.

Kazys
Messages
10
Reaction score
1
What is the velocity distribution of evaporating H2O molecules? It can not be Maxwellian.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Thank you for the references. They deal with rather specific issues of this general question. I would like to
reframe it in more simple terms. A Maxwellian distribution results when freely moving particles interact
elastically. The question can be posed as follows - is the evaporation of an H2O molecule elastic?
Is it a two particle interaction? If not, can the distribution of evaporating molecules be Maxwellian?
 

Similar threads

Undergrad How can evaporative cooling air conditioning work?
  • · Replies 69 ·
3
Replies
69
Views
4K
Graduate Average Velocity of gas molecules calculated with a Boltzmann distribution
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
8K
Graduate How Can Water Evaporate Despite Strong Hydrogen Bonds?
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
2K
Graduate Boltzmann distribution and the number of molecules with a certain velocity
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
3K
Undergrad Why Can a Sound Wave Not Travel Faster than the Average Molecule Speed?
  • · Replies 23 ·
Replies
23
Views
4K
High School The sound that rushing water makes
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
4K
Graduate On the width of the kinetic energy distribution of a gas
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
Graduate Calculating Water Evaporation from Clay Pots
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
Graduate Highly collisional yet low resistivity plasmas
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
Undergrad Energy Required to Evaporate Water
  • · Replies 23 ·
Replies
23
Views
3K