The dimensionless ratiof = &lgr;M/&eegr;Cvrelating the thermal conductivity, molecular weight, viscosity, and constant volume molar heat capacity has been determined for several nonpolar polyatomic gases in the neighborhood of room temperature (270°–295° K). The experimental method, due to Eckert and Irvine, provides a direct determination offby measurement of the subsonic temperature recovery factor. A recent theory of Mason and Monchick has been used to calculate collision numbers for rotational relaxation from the experimental data as follows: CH4, 9.4; CF4, 3.0; SF6, 2.5; C2H4, 2.4; C2H6, 4.0; O2, 12; N2, 7.3; CO2, 2.4; and C2H2, 1.8. Collision numbers for the near‐spherical molecules were in close accord with a classical theory for rough sphere molecules with attractive forces; ethylene, which deviates appreciably from spherical symmetry, exhibited a smaller collision number. The data on linear molecules were in qualitative agreement with a quantum treatment. In general, collision numbers for rotational relaxation are determined by the following factors: (1) The molecular mass distribution, (2) the strength of the intermolecular attractive forces, and (3) the molecular asymmetry.