If heat is a measure of the mean kinetic energy of the particles of a substance, then how does compressing it increase its temperature, since compression squishes the particles of a substance closer together, theoretically limiting movement?
In: Physics
> squishes the particles of a substance closer together, theoretically limiting movement?
“theoretically” according to what theory?
The “mean free path” in a gas will be reduced upon compression, but that just limits how far it can travel between collisions. It doesn’t limit how fast it can do so, which is the relevant thing here.
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