mean free path
noun
: the average distance traversed between collisions by particles (such as molecules of a gas or free electrons in metal) in a system of agitated particles
Examples of mean free path in a Sentence
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Water molecules are floating all around in the air, and their mean free path is around 100 nm.
—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
24 May 2023
What if the distance between cathode and anode were less than the average distance an electron travels before hitting a gas molecule, a distance known as the mean free path?
—
Jin-Woo Han,
IEEE Spectrum,
23 June 2014
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Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
24 May 2023
What if the distance between cathode and anode were less than the average distance an electron travels before hitting a gas molecule, a distance known as the mean free path?
—
Jin-Woo Han,
IEEE Spectrum,
23 June 2014
Cite this Entry
“Mean free path.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mean%20free%20path. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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