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In my book for deriving mean free path a cylinder is taken to act as a sphere of influence of molecules with which it could bump into other molecules and its radius = diameter of the molecule we are considering with

Now why is this a sphere of influence considered cylinder? If its a moving sphere then it should be a capsule like shape , it doesn't have a flat projection in the start to give the cylinder like shape. Is it an approximation or something else ?

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  • $\begingroup$ if you consider only free path in one dimension the cylinder or circle will be the space. $\endgroup$
    – trula
    Commented Feb 22, 2023 at 15:26
  • $\begingroup$ Why is cylinder or circle the space though , if the molecule is a sphere and is moving in 1d then it doesn't necessarily create a path starting with a horizontal circle and then be a 3d cylinder , it starts with it being a sphere so sphere is constantly projected as time goes on not a circle like projection or doesn't be a cylinder right ? $\endgroup$
    – Naveen V
    Commented Feb 22, 2023 at 15:35

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