On the theory of liquids—III

Summary

The theory which has been discussed in this and preceding papers regards a liquid as being composed of a number of force centres or molecules each vibrating within an associated spherical space kept free from other molecules by the thermal motion of the occupying molecule. The transitional motion of the molecules through the liquid is assumed to be small compared with the vibratory motion. Each molecule attracts and repels the others with forces varying as inverse powers of the distance. The diameter of a spherical space is calculated, assuming that these spaces are closely packed, so that it is taken to vary with temperature. In the calculation of properties, such as L _i andγ, it can be assumed that each molecule is on an average at the centre of its spherical space, and there need only be considered the attractive force since the repulsive force comes into play at distances much smaller than the diameter.