In Our Time Kinetic Theory
May 23, 2019
Steven Bramwell, a Professor of Physics at University College London, and Isobel Falconer, a Reader in the History of Mathematics at the University of St Andrews, dive into the intriguing evolution of kinetic theory. They discuss the historic clash between static particle theories and the revolutionary ideas brought by Maxwell and Boltzmann. The conversation reveals how understanding gas behavior set the stage for modern physics, and they explore the fascinating implications of these theories on atomic existence, entropy, and even the philosophical debates surrounding them.
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Early Gas Theories
- Boyle observed that gas pressure and volume have an inverse relationship.
- Initially, static particles were believed to cause pressure, a theory endorsed by Newton.
Kinetic Theory of Gases
- Kinetic theory describes gases as atoms moving in a vacuum, colliding with each other and objects.
- This theory was key in physics' acceptance of atoms and molecules as real entities.
Early Physics Misconceptions
- Early physics struggled to understand concepts like heat and combustion.
- Heat was considered a self-repelling substance and there were incorrect theories about combustion.