Question

Interstellar space has an average temperature of about 10 K , and an average density of hydrogen atoms of about one hydrogen atom per cubic meter. Calculate the mean free path of hydrogen atoms in interstellar space. Use ????=100 pm as the diameter of a hydrogen atom.

Answer 1

Answer:

$2.2508\times 10^{19} m$ meter the mean free path of hydrogen atoms in interstellar space.Explanation:

The mean free path equation is given as:

$\lambda =\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}\pi d^2 n}$

Where"

d = diameter of hydrogen atom in meters

n =  number of molecules per unit volume

We are given: d = 100 pm = $100\times 10^{-12}= 10^{-10} m$

$n = 1 m^{-3}$

$\lambda =\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}\pi (10^{-10} m)^2\times 1 m^{-3}}$

$\lambda =2.2508\times 10^{19} m$

$2.2508\times 10^{19} m$ meter the mean free path of hydrogen atoms in interstellar space.