Brownian motion It is the random movement of particles suspended in a liquid or gas. The movement is caused by particles colliding with each other.
Brownian motion is named after a botanist, Roberto Brownwho observed pollen grains moving randomly in water under a microscope. Although pollen grains are much larger than water molecules, there were still enough collisions to make them move.
Robert Brown did not understand why the pollen grains he observed moved, but he was the first scientist to document this type of motion. It was Albert Einstein who explained that water molecules moved pollen grains, and Brownian motion was used as proof of the kinetic theory of matter.
This video explains Brownian motion brilliantly!
What is the difference between Brownian motion and diffusion?
- Diffusion is the movement of particles from a high concentration to a low concentration. The particles have a direction of travel. In Brownian motion, the movement of particles is random.
- Diffusion occurs when there is a concentration gradient. Brownian motion occurs due to the movement of other particles in the liquid or gas.
Scientific concepts
Brownian motion
Last updated on June 26, 2023 by Emma Vanstone
