In physics we can consider that Boltzmann constant defines the relation between kinetic energy and the temperature on the absolute scale for an ideal gas. It is denoted by k. Matter contains three states solid, liquid and gas. The gaseous state is a little difficult to understand for various reasons.

In physics ideal gas is one wherein the collisions between molecules or atoms are elastic in a perfect way and no intermolecular forces of attraction between them exists. The molecules can be thought to be spheres that collide with each other but do not have any interaction amongst them. This ideal state of the gas the internal energy can be considered to be its kinetic energy and if any change in the amount of energy is noticed it will be due to change in temperature.

Three variables exist in an ideal gas: volume symbolized by V, absolute pressure denoted as P, and absolute temperature, T. a relationship among these entities for an ideal gas of certain kinetic energy is called the ideal gas law where PV = NkT and k is the Boltzmann constant. Thus it is seen that kinetic energy and temperature are proportional to each other.

The significance of the Boltzmann constant in physics is that we can measure the amount of energy that corresponds to the thermal motions of molecules of any substance at random. This Boltzmann constant is equal to the ratio of the gas constant to that of the Avogadro constant. We can then infer that if the kinetic energy of the molecules increases the temperature of the gas will increase. Also if the temperature is increased or a gas is heated the kinetic energy of the molecules will increase thus making them move more rapidly.

Another deduction can be seen from the above. That is if the gas in contained in a vessel of fixed volume or the volume remains constant the pressure will increase. Also if the gas is heated at a constant pressure it is bound to expand and the volume will increase. This theory was first studied by Boltzmann but he was not able to completely explain the state of energy and the temperature though he had found that there is some relation between the two when the gases are heated.

Later some other scientists developed his work and were able to deduce the exact relationship and were able to figure out the formula for the same and thus the constant in the formula the ratio between the gas constant and the Avogadro constant was named after him and till date it is called the Boltzmann constant.

A lot of research work followed later and this constant and the theory of the ideal gases helped the scientists in various fields to reason out other concepts in matter.

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