Consider two large chambers that communicate with each other only through a small aperture of area A in a very thin wall, as indicated in Fig. 11. The chambers contain an ideal gas at a very low pressure, such that the particle mean free path is much larger than the dimensions of A. The temperatures of the chambers are T₁ and T₂. Determine the ratio p₁/p₂ of pressure in the two chambers assuming that, under equilibrium conditions, the flux of particles through the aperture A from one chamber must equal that from the other. What would be the result in the case of normal conditions of pressure? Give a physical explanation for the two different results.

Figure 11

Transcribed Image Text:

P₁ T₁ A P₂ T₂