text: Since much of the challenge in solving the Boltzmann equation originates with the complex collision term, attempts have been made to "model" and simplify the collision term.  The best known model equation is due to Bhatnagar, Gross and Krook.  The assumption in the BGK approximation is that the effect of molecular collisions is to force a non-equilibrium distribution function at a point in physical space back to a Maxwellian equilibrium distribution function and that the rate at which this occurs is proportional to the molecular collision frequency.  The Boltzmann equation is therefore modified to the BGK form:
  where  is the molecular collision frequency, and  is the local Maxwellian distribution function given the gas temperature at this point in space. This is also called "relaxation time approximation".