Mean free path

The mean free path is the average distance a particle, like a molecule or atom, travels before it collides with another particle. Imagine a busy hallway where people move around; the mean free path is like the average distance someone walks before bumping into someone else. Factors such as particle density and size influence this distance: the more crowded it is, the shorter the mean free path. This concept helps scientists understand behaviors like how gases diffuse or how particles transfer energy in different environments.