Fluid Mechanics, 6th Ed. Kundu, Cohen, and Dowling
Exercise 1.3. The Maxwell probability distribution, f(v) = f(v1,v2,v3), of molecular velocities in a
gas flow at a point in space with average velocity u is given by (1.1).
a) Verify that u is the average molecular velocity, and determine the standard deviations (σ1,
σ2, σ3) of each component of u using σi=1n(vi−ui)2all v∫∫∫ f(v)d3v#$% &'(12
for i = 1, 2, and 3.
b) Using (1.27) or (1.28), determine n = N/V at room temperature T = 295 K and atmospheric
pressure p = 101.3 kPa.
c) Determine N = nV = number of molecules in volumes V = (10 µm)3, 1 µm3, and (0.1 µm)3.
d) For the ith velocity component, the standard deviation of the average, σa,i, over N molecules
is σa,i = σiN when N >> 1. For an airflow at u = (1.0 ms–1, 0, 0), compute the relative
uncertainty, 2σa,1u1, at the 95% confidence level for the average velocity for the three volumes
listed in part c).
e) For the conditions specified in parts b) and d), what is the smallest volume of gas that ensures
a relative uncertainty in U of one percent or less?
Solution 1.3. a) Use the given distribution, and the definition of an average: (v)ave=1nvall u∫∫∫f(v)d3v=m2πkBT"#$ %&'32 v−∞+∞∫−∞+∞∫−∞+∞∫ exp−m2kBTv−u2*+, -./d3v.
Consider the first component of v, and separate out the integrations in the "2" and "3" directions. (v1)ave=m2πkBT!"# $%&32 v1−∞+∞∫−∞+∞∫−∞+∞∫ exp−m2kBT(v1−u1)2+(v2−u2)2+(v3−u3)2*+ ,-./0 123dv1dv2dv3
=m2πkBT!"# $%&32v1−∞+∞∫exp−m(v1−u1)22kBT*+, -./dv1exp−m(v2−u2)22kBT*+, -./dv2−∞+∞∫ exp−m(v3−u3)22kBT*+, -./−∞+∞∫ dv3
The integrations in the "2" and "3" directions are equal to:
€
2πk
B
Tm( )
12
, so (v1)ave=m2πkBT!"# $%&12v1−∞+∞∫exp−m(v1−u1)22kBT*+, -./dv1
The change of integration variable to β=(v1−u1)m2kBT( )12 changes this integral to: (v1)ave=1πβ2kBTm!"# $%&12+u1!"## $%&&−∞+∞∫ exp−β2{}dβ=0+1πu1π=u1,
where the first term of the integrand is an odd function integrated on an even interval so its
contribution is zero. This procedure is readily repeated for the other directions to find (v2)ave = u2,
and (v3)ave = u3. Thus, u = (u1, u2, u3) is the average molecular velocity.
Using the same simplifications and change of integration variables produces: σ12=m2πkBT!"# $%&32 (v1−u1)2−∞+∞∫−∞+∞∫−∞+∞∫ exp−m2kBT(v1−u1)2+(v2−u2)2+(v3−u3)2*+ ,-./0 123dv1dv2dv3
=m2πkBT!"# $%&12(v1−u1)2±∞+∞∫ exp−m(v1−u1)22kBT*+, -./dv1=1π2kBTm!"# $%&β2±∞+∞∫exp−β2{}dβ.