5.4.16∗. Between two flat parallel plates located at a distance $\delta$ from each other, there is a monatomic gas (the free path of atoms is much longer than $\delta$). Estimate the heat flux density if the temperature of the plates is maintained at T and $T + \Delta T$, respectively, and the unit volume of gas contains $n'$ atoms; $\mu$ is the mass of the atom
Solution
In the classical case, the heat flux is determined by the formula:
However, for the sake of clarity, it would be fair to ignore the coefficient $\frac{1}{3}$. It should also be noted that for $\lambda\gg \delta$, the mean free path of the molecules is determined by the distance $\delta$. Also, given the smallness of $\delta$, the derivative can be considered equal to $-\frac{\Delta T}{\delta}$. The gas is monatomic, meaning $i=3$. We'll take the average velocity to be equal to the root-mean-square value: $\left\langle \upsilon \right\rangle = \sqrt{\frac{3kT}{\mu}}$. Hence, the final formula for the flux density is: