Chemistry / Unit 7 Chem 1318 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Maxwell-Boltzmann Speed Distribution
Captions available
The idea
At a fixed temperature, a gas sample's molecular speeds spread across a range, peaking at a most-probable speed, the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution.
In practice
Raising the temperature shifts this distribution toward higher speeds and flattens its peak.
Where people slip
Not every molecule moves at the average speed — the distribution's whole shape, not one number, describes the gas.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Unlocks
- Nothing yet depends on this.
Something wrong in this lesson? Flag it · Sources for Chemistry