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Mean Free Path




The formula for calculating the magnitude of the mean free path depends on the characteristics of the system the particle is in. For a particle with a high velocity relative to the velocities of an ensemble of identical particles with random locations, the following relationship applies:

:\ell = (n\sigma)^{-1},

Where \ell is the mean free path, ''n'' is the number of particles per unit volume, and σ is the effective Cross-section al area for collision. If, on the other hand, the velocities of the identical particles have a Maxwell Distribution of velocities, the following relationship applies:

:\ell = (\sqrt{2}\, n\sigma)^{-1}.\,


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