Root Mean Square Velocity Calculator
Find the root mean square (RMS) speed of molecules in an ideal gas from its temperature and molar mass, based on the kinetic theory of gases.
What This Calculator Does
The root mean square (RMS) velocity is a measure of the average speed of molecules in a gas, derived from the kinetic theory of gases. It accounts for the fact that individual gas molecules move at a wide range of speeds, and RMS gives a statistically meaningful average.
The Formula
The calculator uses v_rms = √(3RT / M), where R is the universal gas constant (8.314 J/(mol·K)), T is the absolute temperature in kelvin, and M is the molar mass of the gas in kilograms per mole (the molar mass in g/mol is entered and converted automatically).
This formula assumes ideal gas behavior. Real gases deviate from this model at very high pressure or very low temperature. Provided for general educational and reference purposes.