Mean free path

{
  "id": "MLC-T-MET-007156",
  "term": "Mean free path",
  "field": "Meteorology and atmospheric science",
  "definition": "The average distance a molecule travels between successive collisions with other molecules in a gas. This distance is inversely proportional to the density of the gas, meaning it increases with altitude in the atmosphere. In the upper atmosphere, the mean free path can be several kilometers, affecting how atmospheric gases interact with spacecraft.",
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/meteorology/mean-free-path/"
}