Who among the following was the first to obtain reliable estimates of molecular parameters from measurable quantities?

The correct answer is James Clerk Maxwell.

Key Points

• James Clerk Maxwell was the first to derive reliable estimates of molecular parameters such as molecular velocities and mean free path using measurable physical quantities.
• Maxwell developed the kinetic theory of gases and introduced the concept of the Maxwell distribution, which describes the distribution of molecular speeds in a gas.
• His work on molecular dynamics laid the foundation for statistical mechanics and thermodynamics, influencing later scientists like Ludwig Boltzmann.
• Maxwell's equations for electromagnetism and his pioneering contributions to the kinetic theory revolutionized 19th-century physics.

Additional Information

• Maxwell Distribution:
  • The Maxwell distribution predicts the probability of finding particles at specific speeds in a gas.
  • It is a fundamental concept in the kinetic theory of gases and is used to calculate thermal properties of gases.
• Kinetic Theory of Gases:
  • This theory explains the behavior of gases based on the motion of individual molecules.
  • It assumes that gas molecules are in constant random motion and interact through elastic collisions.
• Mean Free Path:
  • The mean free path is the average distance a molecule travels between collisions in a gas.
  • Maxwell's work provided methods to estimate this value using measurable quantities like pressure and temperature.
• Statistical Mechanics:
  • This field combines macroscopic thermodynamics with the microscopic behavior of particles.
  • Maxwell and Boltzmann's work laid its foundational principles, helping to explain physical properties of matter.