# Math Help - (Chemistry Question) What is pressure?

1. ## (Chemistry Question) What is pressure?

Is pressure the velocity of the particles when they collide in their environment? (self-made definiton to see if I understand)

2. Originally Posted by s3a
Is pressure the velocity of the particles when they collide in their environment? (self-made definiton to see if I understand)
Pressure is the average force per unit area due to the kinetic energy of the particles causing them to collide off the boundaries of their environment.

The more kinetic energy, the more collisions per unit time, and the more forceful the collisions are.

3. yes in physics you learn that $P= F/A$ or pressure equals force divided by area and kinetic energy which is a force $= .5 mv^2.$

4. Originally Posted by fredricktator
[snip]
and kinetic energy which is a force $= .5 mv^2.$
Kinetic energy is NOT a force.

5. LOL

More specifically, kinetic energy is a nonnegative scalar quantity. Conversely, force is a vector, with the direction of the acceleration vector and norm of the acceleration vector scaled by mass.

You can find the kinetic energy by integrating force over a path...