Vibrational relaxation times in gases are calculated with the method of Zener using an exponential repulsion in a one-dimensional model. The constants of the interaction potential are determined by fitting it to the data of Hirschfelder, et al. The great effect which some impurities have is accounted for either by their low mass and resultant high velocity or by ``near resonance'' transfers in which the vibrational quantum of the substratum is used partly to excite the vibration of the impurity, only the difference being transferred to translation. However, there are other impurities, the action of which cannot be explained in this manner. The theoretical values for the relaxation times are 10 to 30 times shorter than the experimental ones, which difference may be accounted for by the use of the one-dimensional model. Macroscopic equations governing the more complex relaxation processes in polyatomic gases and gas mixtures are developed.

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