So many of the properties of matter, especially when in the gaseous form, can be deduced from the hypothesis that their minute parts are in rapid motion, the velocity increasing with the temperature, that the precise nature of this motion becomes a subject of rational curiosity. Etc., have shown that the relations between pressure, temperature and density in a perfect gas can be explained by supposing the particles move with uniform velocity in straight lines, striking against the sides of the containing vessel and thus producing pressure. {1860}
This quote from James Clerk Maxwell reflects a pivotal moment in our scientific understanding of gases and the kinetic theory of matter. It beautifully encapsulates the foundational idea that the microscopic motion of particles fundamentally determines the macroscopic properties of substances. The notion that particles move rapidly and that their velocity escalates with temperature is both intuitive and profound, bridging the gap between observable phenomena and atomic behavior. Maxwell also touches...
