PH32 01: Stat istica l Mec hani cs I Probl em Set 3. Due in class: Tuesda y , F eb 24 2015 Reading: lecture notes 9, 10, and 11. 1. (Debye model. ) Use the Debye approximati on to find the follo wing thermodyn amic func- tions of a solid as a function of temperature T. Expr ess your answ ers in terms of the function D(y) = 3 y 3 y 0 x 3 dx e x − 1 and the Debye temperature Θ D = ¯ hω D /k B = (¯ hv/k B )(6π 2 N/L 3 ) 1/3 . (a) Sho w that the partition function of the Deby e model is given by ZDebye = n 1 1 − e −β¯ hωn . (1) In the probl em, we drop the contr ibution of the zero- poin t ene rgy for the quantum harmonic oscillator. (b) Sho w that the Helmh oltz free energ yF= −k B Tlog Zis given by F= 3N KB Tlog[1 − exp(−Θ D /T)] − N k B T D(Θ D /T). (2) Hint: uselog i B i = i log B i and integration by partsx 2 log(1 −e −x )dx= x 3 /3log(1− e −x ) − x 3 /(e x − 1)dx. (c) Sho w that the mean ener gyEis given by E= 3N k B T D(Θ D /T). (3) (d) Sho w that the entrop ySis S= N k B [−3 log(1 − exp(−Θ D /T)) + 4D(Θ D /T)]. (4) (e) EvaluateD(y) in the limit y 1 andy 1. (f) Use these re sul ts to findF, E, and SwhenTΘ D and TΘ D . What conclusions can you draw? Do they agree with what we found in class? 2. (Gas in gravitational field. ) Consider a column of atoms each of mass Mat temperature Tin a uniform gravitational field g. Find the ther mal averag e pote nt ial energ y per atom. The thermal aver age kinetic energy density is indepen den t of height. The total heat capacity is the sum of contributions from the kinetic energy and from the potential energy. Take the zero of the gravitational energy at the bottomh= 0 of the column. Integrate fromh= 0 to h= ∞. Show that the heat capacity is 5k B /2. 1
Problem Set 3. Due in class: Tuesday, Feb 24 2015
Reading: lecture notes 9, 10, and 11.
1. (Debye model.) Use the Debye approximation to find the following
thermodynamic func-
tions of a solid as a function of temperature T . Express
your answers in terms of the function
D(y) = 3
and the Debye temperature ΘD = hωD/kB =
(hv/kB)(6π2N/L3)1/3.
(a) Show that the partition function of the Debye model is given
by
Z Debye = n
1− e−βhωn . (1)
In the problem, we drop the contribution of the zero-point energy
for the quantum
harmonic oscillator.
(b) Show that the Helmholtz free energy F =
−kBT log Z is given by
F = 3NK BT log[1− exp(−ΘD/T )]
−NkBTD(ΘD/T ). (2)
Hint: use log
iBi =
i logBi and integration by parts x2
log(1−e−x)dx = x3/3log(1−
e−x)− x3/(ex − 1)dx.
(c) Show that the mean energy E is given by
E = 3NkBTD(ΘD/T ). (3)
S = NkB[−3 log(1− exp(−ΘD/T )) +
4D(ΘD/T )]. (4)
(e) Evaluate D(y) in the limit y 1 and y
1.
(f) Use these results to find F , E ,
and S when T ΘD
and T ΘD. What conclusions
can you draw? Do they agree with what we found in class?
2. (Gas in gravitational field.) Consider a column of atoms each of
mass M at temperature
T in a uniform gravitational field g. Find the
thermal average potential energy per atom.
The thermal average kinetic energy density is independent of
height. The total heat capacity
is the sum of contributions from the kinetic energy and from the
potential energy. Take the
zero of the gravitational energy at the bottom h = 0 of
the column. Integrate from h = 0 to
h = ∞. Show that the heat capacity is 5kB/2.
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3. (Plant cell.) The concentration of potassium K+ ions in the
internal sap of a plant cell of
a fresh water alga may exceed the concentration of
potassium K + ions in the pond water in
which the alga is growing in by a factor 104. The chemical
potential of the K+ ions is higher
in the sap because their concentration n is higher there.
Estimate the difference in chemical
potential at 300K and show that it is equivalent to a voltage of
0.24V across the cell wall, i.e.
0.24 eV (electron volt). Assume the system of the ions as an ideal
gas.
4. (Grand partition function.)
(a) Consider a system that may be unoccupied with energy zero or
occupied by one particle
in either of 2 states, 0 and . Show that the grand partition
function (also known as the
Gibbs sum) for this system is
Z = 1 + λ + λ exp(−β), (5)
where λ = exp(βµ). We exclude the possibility of one
particle in each state at the same
time.
(b) Show that the thermal average occupancy of the system is
N = λ + λ exp(−β)
Z (6)
(c) Show that the thermal average occupancy of the state at
energy is
N () = λ exp(−β)
Z (7)
(d) Find an expression for the thermal average energy of the
system.
(e) Allow the possibility that the orbital at 0 and may
be occupied each by one particle
at the same time. In this case, show that
Z = 1 + λ + λ exp(−β) + λ2 exp(−β) = [1 + λ][1 + λ
exp(−β)]. (8)
Since Z can be factorized as shown, we have in
effect, two independent system.
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