Molecular Level View

P*V = mvx2 (for one molecule)

Recall that v2 = vx2 + vy2 + vz2 .

On average, vx2 = vy2 = vz2, so v2 = 3*vx2 .

Thus, P*V = (1/3)mv2 .

Now recall that the kinetic energy of a molecule is KE = (1/2)mv2.

Thus, P*V = (2/3)*(1/2)mv2 = (2/3)*KE .

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