The kinetic theory of gases proposes that gases are made up of molecules that are in constant, random motion and collide elastically with each other and the walls of their container. The pressure exerted by a gas is caused by collisions of its molecules with the container walls, and is proportional to the number of collisions. Kinetic energy depends only on temperature, while the volume occupied by gas molecules is negligible compared to the container volume and intermolecular forces are ignored.