The formula for calculating the magnitude of the mean free path depends on the characteristics of the system the particle is in. For particles with a high velocity relative to the velocities of an ensemble of identical particles with random locations, the following relationship applies:
Where l is the mean free path, n is the number of particles per unit volume, and σ is the effective cross-sectional area for collision. If, on the other hand, the velocities of the identical particles have a Maxwell distribution[?] of velocities, the following relationship applies:
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