ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Lattice gas

Imagine you have a bunch of tiny particles that are moving around in a big box. This box is divided into a grid of little squares, like a checkerboard. Each particle can only be in one square at a time, and it can only move to one of its neighboring squares.

Now, let's say that some of the squares have a wall in them. The particles can't move through the wall. Also, let's say that some of the squares have a barrier in them. The particles can move through the barrier, but they can't move through any other squares that are next to the barrier.

This system of particles moving around on a grid is called a lattice gas. It's like a simplified version of a real gas, where the particles are atoms or molecules moving around in a bigger space.

Scientists use lattice gas models to study how gases behave under different conditions. For example, they might want to know how a gas will spread out if there's a lot of empty space, or how it will move through a narrow channel.

By studying the lattice gas model, scientists can make predictions about how real gases will behave in similar situations. This can help them understand things like how pollutants might spread through the air or how to design better filters for air conditioning systems.