What is the basic difference between Maxwell and Gaussian Distribution?

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The Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution and Gaussian distribution differ primarily in their application and symmetry. The Gaussian distribution is a general mathematical model applicable to various scenarios, while the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution specifically describes the statistical behavior of particles in thermodynamics. The Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution can be viewed as a specific three-dimensional Gaussian when analyzing the components of particle velocity as random variables. Overall, these distributions serve distinct purposes in statistical mechanics and general statistics. Understanding their differences is crucial for applying the correct model in relevant fields.
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Can anyone tell me the basic difference between Maxwell and Gaussian distribution?


Thanks in Advance
 
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Fundamentally - they have different extents and symmetry.
 
The Gaussian distribution is a general mathematical distribution.

The Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution is a particular distribution about particles (statistical mechanics). If the components of velocity are considered as random variables, its appearance is that of a particular three dimensional Gaussian.
 

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