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Bio Physics
Unit I : Essentials of thermodynamics

1. Basic principles of different forms of energy- Heat and

Thermodynamics
2. Concept of entropy
3. Enthalpy and Gibb’s free energy
4. Boltzmann distribution

1. Basic principles of different forms of energy- Heat and

Thermodynamics

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Thermodynamics

Thermodynamics deals with the relationships between heat, work, and

energy. It has four fundamental laws:

1. Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics: If two systems are in thermal

equilibrium with a third system, they are in thermal equilibrium with
each other.

2. First Law of Thermodynamics: Also known as the Law of Energy

Conservation, it states that energy cannot be created or destroyed; it
can only change forms. Mathematically, it is expressed as:

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ΔU = Q − W

 ΔU: Change in internal energy of the system

 Q: Heat added to the system

 W: Work done by the system

This law emphasizes that the total energy of an isolated system remains
constant.

Second Law of Thermodynamics: This law introduces the concept of

entropy. It states that in any spontaneous process, the total entropy of an
isolated system always increases over time. It can be expressed in various
forms, such as:

 : Change in total entropy of the system and surroundings

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This law explains why certain processes occur naturally in one direction
(irreversibility).

Third Law of Thermodynamics: It states that as the temperature of a

system approaches absolute zero the entropy approaches a
minimum value.

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2. Concept of entropy

Entropy is a fundamental concept in physics, particularly in

thermodynamics, that quantifies the disorder or randomness of a system. It
helps explain the direction of natural processes and is closely related to the
concept of energy dispersal over time.

Concept of Entropy

Entropy SSS is a measure of the number of microscopic configurations or

arrangements that a system can have at a macroscopic level. It quantifies
the degree of randomness or disorder in a system.

Key Points:

1. Microstates and Macrostates:

o A system's microstate refers to the specific arrangement of

particles (atoms, molecules) and their energy levels.

o A macrostate describes the system in terms of observable

properties like temperature, pressure, and volume.

2. Boltzmann Entropy Formula:

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4. Entropy and Energy Dispersal:

o Entropy change often correlates with the dispersal of energy.

For example, when heat flows from a hot object to a cooler one
(spontaneous process), entropy increases because energy
spreads out more uniformly.

5. Statistical Interpretation:

o Entropy reflects the statistical likelihood of different

microstates occurring. Systems tend to evolve towards states
with higher entropy because these states have more possible
arrangements (greater disorder).

Example:

Consider a container with two compartments separated by a partition.

Initially, all gas molecules are on one side. When the partition is removed,
molecules disperse throughout the container, increasing the entropy. This
dispersal maximizes the number of possible arrangements (microstates) of
molecules in the available space.

Importance of Entropy:

 Direction of Processes: Entropy helps determine the direction in

which processes occur spontaneously. Natural processes tend to
increase the entropy of the universe.

 Efficiency: In practical applications, understanding entropy helps in

designing efficient engines and processes, such as maximizing the
efficiency of heat engines or refrigerators.

 Information Theory: In information theory, entropy is used to

quantify uncertainty or information content.

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3. Enthalpy and Gibb’s free energy

Enthalpy (H):

Enthalpy (H) is a thermodynamic quantity that represents the total heat

content of a system at constant pressure. It includes the internal energy of
the system plus the product of pressure and volume:

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Applications:

 Chemical Reactions: Enthalpy and Gibbs Free Energy are used to

predict and understand the feasibility and direction of chemical
reactions.

 Phase Transitions: Enthalpy helps understand heat transfer during

phase changes, while Gibbs Free Energy indicates the equilibrium
conditions of phase transitions.

 Biochemical Processes: Gibbs Free Energy is crucial in

biochemical reactions, such as enzyme-catalyzed reactions and
metabolic pathways.

4. Boltzmann distribution
The Boltzmann distribution is a fundamental concept in statistical
mechanics that describes the distribution of particles (or energy levels)
among various possible states in a system at thermal equilibrium. This
distribution is named after the Austrian physicist Ludwig Boltzmann, who
contributed significantly to the development of statistical mechanics.

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Key Concepts of Boltzmann Distribution:

1. Microstates and Macrostates:

o A microstate refers to a specific arrangement of particles

(atoms, molecules) and their energies in a system.

o A macrostate describes the system in terms of macroscopic

variables like temperature, volume, and pressure.

2. Statistical Mechanics Basis:

o Statistical mechanics provides a framework to understand the

behavior of large systems of particles using probabilistic
methods.

o The Boltzmann distribution arises from the statistical analysis

of these systems, considering the probability of particles
occupying different energy levels or states.

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4. Temperature Dependence:

 The distribution shows how the probabilities of occupying different

states change with temperature.

 At higher temperatures, higher-energy states become more populated

as thermal energy allows particles to access higher energy levels.

5. Partition Function Z:

 Z is a crucial factor in the Boltzmann distribution, ensuring that the

probabilities sum to 1 over all possible states.

 It is calculated as:

Practical Example:

Consider a system of gas molecules in a container at a given

temperature T. According to the Boltzmann distribution, the higher the
temperature, the greater the likelihood that molecules will have higher
kinetic energies and thus move faster. This statistical approach helps
predict the distribution of molecular velocities and energies, which are
essential for understanding properties like pressure and heat capacity.

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