This applet models the Maxwell-Boltzmann Law, which predicts the nunber of gas molecules with a particular velocity, as a function of the temperature and the molar mass of the gas.
This applet also displays the root-mean square velocity of a gas molecule with a particular energy, in this case, the energy of activation. This allows the viewer to instantly see the relative number of gas molcules which have an energy greater than the energy of activation. In the Arrhenius theory of reaction kinetics, only those molecules with a (kinetic) energy greater than the energy of activation will react. Therefore, the reaction rate depends on both the temperature, and the intrinsic energy of activation for the particular reaction.
Clicking on mass+ increases the molar mass of the gas molecule, and clicking on mass- decreases the molar mass. Clicking on temp+ increases the temperature, and temp- decreases it. Clicking on E act + increases the energy of activation, and clicking E act - decreases the energy of activation. Notice that the changes in the energy of activation occur rather slowly, so please be patient
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