Sunday, 8 May 2011

Brownian Motion

Robert brown first observed though a microscope the jerky movement of pollen particles in water. This jostling can also be observed in an airborne smoke particle, the average speed of air molecule is 1000mph. Although an atom cannot be seen the existence of atoms can be inferred empirically. The force acted onto the pollen or smoke particle by the atom is tiny however, movement occurs because of imbalances in the acting kinetic forces, knocking the particle in jerky movements. The seemingly uniform pattern of Brownian motion is a fractal. Temperature is the mean squared velocity therefore if the temperature is increased a greater activity of motion is observed. Einstein popularised Robert browns 19th century idea and thwarted atomic theory sceptics of the early 20th century.

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