The work of Maxwell on the distribution of speeds was based ont the kinetic model and this model allowed not only the derivation of speed distribution, but also the distribution of kinetic energies.

The distribution of kinetic energies in a gas is often reffered to as the Maxwell-Boltzman distribution and the applet below illustrates the shape of the distribution curve. The Maxwell velocity distribution can be seen as a special case a more general energy distribution derived later by the Austrian scientist Ludwig Boltzman (1844-1906) that applies to a wider range of systems - the Boltzman energy distribution. The title of Maxwell-Boltzman distribution for the kinetic energy profile of a gas thus gives both scientists credit for these theoretical models. The curve is usually plotted as the fraction of molecules having a particular kinetic energy against values for kinetic energy. You can adjust the temperature between 1000 K and 4000 K by using the slider control on the applet (see diagram on the left).

Note that: