Abstract
THE quantum theory, unlike classical theory, predicts a finite effective collision area for impact between gas atoms attracting with a mutual potential energy falling off more rapidly with distance than the inverse cube. It has been pointed out by Massey and Mohr1 that this makes possible a new experimental method for investigating the magnitudes and nature of these interatomic forces, namely, by direct observation of free paths by molecular ray methods using sufficiently high resolving power. Further, they have given a formula for the effective collision area for any inverse power law of force, from which the results of such experiments could be interpreted.
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References
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MASSEY, H., BUCKINGHAM, R. Determination of van der Waals Forces. Nature 138, 77 (1936). https://doi.org/10.1038/138077a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/138077a0
