- word_count: 200
The kinetic theory derivation of pressure considers molecules in a cubic container of side . Each molecule with x-component of velocity transfers momentum per wall collision, with collision frequency on one wall. Summing over all molecules and averaging over three directions (isotropy: ) gives .
Rewriting: where is the average translational KE per molecule. This shows pressure is proportional to the kinetic energy density (kinetic energy per unit volume). Substituting recovers .
Dalton's law follows naturally: in a mixture, each species contributes independently to pressure. . Crucially, at the same and , equal numbers of molecules of different gases exert equal pressure — pressure does not depend on molecular mass (Avogadro's insight).