Kompresibilní

Kompresibilní refers to the property of a substance or material to decrease in volume when subjected to external pressure. This is a fundamental concept in physics and engineering, particularly relevant when dealing with gases and, to a lesser extent, liquids and solids.

Gases are highly compressible because their molecules are widely separated and move randomly. Applying pressure forces these molecules closer together, reducing the overall volume the gas occupies. This behavior is described by gas laws, such as Boyle's Law, which states that at constant temperature, the pressure of a gas is inversely proportional to its volume.

Liquids are generally considered incompressible for practical purposes. While they can be compressed slightly under extreme pressure, their molecules are already closely packed, leaving little room for further reduction in volume.

Solids are even less compressible than liquids. Their molecules are held in fixed positions within a rigid structure, making significant volume changes under pressure very difficult. However, some materials, like certain foams or aerogels, exhibit a degree of compressibility due to their porous structure.

The degree of compressibility is quantified by the compressibility factor, which is the reciprocal of the bulk modulus. A high compressibility factor indicates that a substance is easily compressed, while a low factor suggests it is resistant to compression. Understanding compressibility is crucial in applications ranging from engine design and fluid dynamics to material science and the behavior of planetary atmospheres.