Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 11, 2026

Biophysical Characterization of Flagellar Motor Functions
Published on: January 18, 2017
Thermodynamics and kinetics of a Brownian motor
1Department of Surgery, University of Chicago, MC6035, Chicago, IL 60637, USA. dastumia@surgery.bsd.uchicago.edu
Abstract:
Nonequilibrium fluctuations, whether generated externally or by a chemical reaction far from equilibrium, can bias the Brownian motion of a particle in an anisotropic medium without thermal gradients, a net force such as gravity, or a macroscopic electric field. Fluctuation-driven transport is one mechanism by which chemical energy can directly drive the motion of particles and macromolecules and may find application in a wide variety of fields, including particle separation and the design of molecular motors and pumps.
Related Concept Videos
Kinetic Molecular Theory: Molecular Velocities, Temperature, and Kinetic Energy
Distribution of Molecular Speeds
Maxwell's Thermodynamic Relations
All thermodynamic potentials are exact differentials. Therefore, their second-order...
Thermodynamics: Activity Coefficient
The activity coefficient is a measure of the deviation from ideal behavior. When the ionic strength of the solution is minimal, the activity coefficient of an ionic species is close to unity, making...
The Kinetic Model of Gases
Electro-mechanical Systems
A key component of the DC motor is the armature, a rotating circuit positioned within a magnetic field. As an electric current passes through the...

