Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 March 2006
The effects of compressibility, temperature-jump and gaseous adsorption are considered in an attempt to predict the temperature-time history at the interface between a gas and a solid when both the temperature and the pressure of the gas are suddenly changed. It appears that temperature-jump will be the dominant effect, with adsorption contributing significantly in some circumstances. Compressibility is of minor importance during practically-resolvable time intervals. Some experimental evidence which gives tentative support to the results of the analysis is commented upon.