In Statistical Mechanics we study how the overall behaviour of a system of large no. of particles is related to the properties of the particles themselves.
STATISTICAL DISTRIBUTIONS Consder a system having total energy E and total no. of Particles N. Statistical mechanics determines the most probable Fig.: system of particles way in which a certain amount of total energy E of the system is distributed among the large no. of particles say N at thermal equilibrium at absolute temperature T. By using statistical mechanics we can establish how many particles are likely to have energy 𝜖1, how many particles are likely to have energy 𝜖2 and so on.
No. of particles having energy 𝜖 is given by
n(𝜖)= g(𝜖) 𝑓(𝜖) where, g(𝜖) is number of states of energy 𝜖 𝑓(𝜖) is distribution function or probability of occupancy of each state of energy 𝜖. If the distribution of energy is continuous, then No of particles in energy range 𝜖 to 𝜖 + 𝑑𝜖 is given by n(𝜖) 𝑑𝜖 = g(𝜖)𝑑𝜖 𝑓(𝜖) … … … … … (1)
The distribution function 𝑓(𝜖) is different for different type of particles, we have three type of particle (1) Classical Particles (2) Bossons (3) Fermions. Bosons and Fermions are called quantum particles as they are handled by quantum mechanics. Classical Paricles: they are identical and distinguishable (sufficient far apart to be distinguishable). For these type of particles we use Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution function (fMB) eg gas molecules. Bosons: are identical and nondistinguishable. Have spin 0 or integral i.e. 0, 1, 2, 3, 4…………Obey Bose-Einstein distribution function (fBE) eg photons, gravitos etc. Fermions: are identical and nondistinguishable. Have odd half-ontergral spin i.e.1/2, 3/2, 5/2………... Obey Fermi-Dirac distribution function (fFD) eg electros, protons, neutrons etc.
MOLECULAR ENERGIES OF AN IDEAL GAS
Maxwell-Boltsmann statistics is used for the molecules of an ideal gas. Cosider a system of ideal gas having total energy E and N molecules (molecules of an ideal gas are sufficiently far apart so they are distinguishable – classical particles). The no. of molecules having energy 𝜖 is given by n(𝜖)= g(𝜖) fMB(𝜖) ………..from eqn. (1) −𝜖/𝑘𝑇 where fMB = A𝑒 Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution function. No. of molecules having energy in between 𝜖 to 𝜖 + 𝑑𝜖 is given by n(𝜖)d𝜖= g(𝜖)d𝜖 A𝑒 −𝜖/𝑘𝑇 ………….(2) Find g(𝜖)d𝜖 ? To find this let us consider a momentum space whose coordinate axes are px, py, pz. py
width dp ppp
px
pz
no. of momentum states in momentum rane p → 𝑝 + 𝑑𝑝
g(p)dp = are of yellow portion = area of inner circle of radius p × width = 4𝜋𝑝2 × dp = B 𝑝2 dp……………………(3) p2 = 2m𝜖 𝑚𝑑𝜖 dp = √2𝑚𝜖
Putting value of p2 and dp in eqn. (3), no. of energy states oin the range 𝜖 → 𝜖 + 𝑑𝜖 g(𝜖)𝑑𝜖 = 2𝑚3/2B √𝜖 d𝜖 Now putting g(𝜖)𝑑𝜖 in equation (2) n(𝜖)d𝜖= 2𝑚3/2 𝐴B √𝜖 𝑒 −𝜖/𝑘𝑇 𝑑𝜖 n(𝜖)d𝜖 = 𝐶 √𝜖 𝑒 −𝜖/𝑘𝑇 d𝜖…………(4) Where C = 2𝑚3/2 𝐴B = constant Find C? Total no. of molecules ∞ ∞ N = ∫0 𝑛(𝜖)𝑑𝜖 = C∫0 √𝜖 𝑒 −𝜖/𝑘𝑇 𝑑𝜖 ∞ 𝟏 𝝅 Use ∫𝟎 √𝝐 𝒆−𝒂𝒙 d𝝐 = √𝒂 standard integral 𝟐𝒂 We get, N= (1/2)C√𝜋 (𝑘𝑇)3/2 2𝜋𝑁 C = (𝜋𝑘𝑇)3/2 Molecular energy distribution from eqn. (4) 𝟐𝝅𝑵 n(𝝐)d𝝐 = (𝝅𝒌𝑻)𝟑/𝟐 √𝝐 𝒆−𝝐/𝒌𝑻 d𝝐 n(𝜖)
0 kT 2kT 3kT 𝜖 Average Molecular Energy:
Average molecular energy is equal to total energy divided by no. of molecules i. e.
𝐸 𝜖̅ = 𝑁
∞ Total energy of the system, E = ∫0 𝜖𝑛(𝜖)𝑑𝜖
2𝜋𝑁 ∞ = (𝜋𝑘𝑇)3/2 ∫0 𝜖 3/2 𝑒 −𝜖/𝑘𝑇 d𝜖
∞ 3 𝜋 Use ∫0 𝑥 3/2 𝑒 −𝑎𝑥 dx=4𝑎2 √𝑎 standard integral
2𝜋𝑁 3 E={ (𝜋𝑘𝑇)3/2 }{ 4 (𝑘𝑇)2 √𝜋𝑘𝑇
3 E = 2 NkT ……….this is total energy of N gas molecules
Average molecular energy of an ideal gas (average energy of a molecule),
𝑬 𝟑 𝝐̅ = = kT 𝑵 𝟐
Q1. What is average molecular energy of an ideal gas at absolute temperature T = 0 K?
Q2. Find the average energy of an oxygen gas molecule at room temperature.
