Graphics, Figures & Tables ⇒ Maxwell-Boltzmann Distribution Graph

[ghostanime2001]

How can one plot a Maxwell Distribution function in LaTeX? I want to make a similar graph like in this attached image file so that I can work on adding some more information on it with my document. Thanks.

[localghost]

I suggest to use either pgf/tikZ or pst-plot (based on pstricks). You know the mathematical function for this distribution so that it should be no big deal to plot it and add annotations.


Thorsten

[torbjorn t.]

pgfplots is also worth a mention.

[ghostanime2001]

I don't know the mathematical function for this distribution unfortunately. But can those packages plot ANY function? and will they plot every value or discrete values for equations with one variable?

[localghost]

I don't know the mathematical function for this distribution unfortunately. […]

Maxwell–Boltzmann distribution - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[…] But can those packages plot ANY function? and will they plot every value or discrete values for equations with one variable?

Explain "any" in this context. With the packages I suggested in my earlier reply you can plot smooth functions with at least one variable. With the pgfplots package that Torbjorn suggested you can also plot three-dimensional functions. The same applies to pst-3dplot. For more information about the capabilities of those packages please consult their manuals. Feel free to ask further questions along with a presentation of a serious approach you did on your own.

[ghostanime2001]

By 'any' I mean complicated math expressions as well as simple functions and parametric curves too.

Some of the environments in ps-3dplot don't work when I insert the codes into TeXworks. But it works in TeXnicCenter. I would like to make it work in TeXworks thx

[localghost]

By 'any' I mean complicated math expressions as well as simple functions and parametric curves too. […]

All applicable packages have been mentioned. Refer to their manuals to learn more about their capabilities.

[…] Some of the environments in ps-3dplot don't work when I insert the codes into TeXworks. But it works in TeXnicCenter. I would like to make it work in TeXworks thx

Due to its built-in PDF viewer TeXworks only supports compiler engines that directly produce PDF output. But PSTricks does not work with e. g. PDFLaTeX directly [1]. So either include the auto-pst-pdf package or set the »pdf« option for the pstricks package. See the manual for details. You could also run XeLaTeX directly on PSTricks code.

[1] /PSTricks/pdf/pdfoutput

[ghostanime2001]

So using XeTeX I can run pstricks and Tikz visually like Texworks? Btw.. how can I install XeTeX?

[localghost]

Xe(La)TeX is part of your TeX distribution.

[ghostanime2001]

The maxwell distribution function for kinetic energy vs. number of molecules is this right ? http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hb ... pe.html#c1 Under the category of "Velocity Distribution in One Dimension" ???