Try it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
The tube of a neon sign holds neon at a pressure of and a temperature of . A neon atom has a diameter of . Find the number of atoms in each cubic metre and the mean free path. Take .
A molecule of diameter hits every molecule whose centre lies within of its path. With :
Collision frequency .
Have you tried it?
Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
Step 1. Number density. .
Step 2. Mean free path. The bottom line is . So , which is micrometres.
Check. The pressure is about 77 times lower than in the air. So the mean free path is much longer than in air, as we expect.
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