Molecular Motion

In the kinetic theory of gasses, increasing the temperature of a gas increases in average kinetic energy of the molecules, causing increased motion. This increased motion increases the outward pressure of the gas, an expected result from the ideal gas equation PV=NkT. In this demonstration, the temperature of the balls is not increased, but the kinetic energy of the balls is increased, giving the appearance of molecules at elevated temperature.

In the kinetic theory of gasses, increasing the temperature of a gas increases in average kinetic energy of the molecules, causing increased motion. This increased motion increases the outward pressure of the gas, an expected result from the ideal gas equation PV=NkT. In this demonstration, the temperature of the balls is not increased, but the kinetic energy of the balls is increased, giving the appearance of molecules at elevated temperature.