Statistical Physics

Problem Set #1
Due: March 30
1. Show that, for two large systems in thermal contact, the number Ω(0) (E (0) , E1 )
discussed in class can be expressed as a Gaussian in the variable E1 . Determine
the root-mean-square deviation of E1 from the mean value E1 in terms of other
quantities pertaining to the problem. Make an explicit evaluation of the root-
mean-square deviation of E1 in the special case when the systems A1 and A2 are
ideal classical gases.

2. Hard sphere gas: We can improve on the realism of the ideal gas by giving the
atoms a small radius. If we make the potential energy infinite inside this radius
(hard spheres), the potential energy is simple (zero unless the spheres overlap,
which is forbidden). A two-dimensional L × L box with hard walls contains a
gas of N hard disks of radius r  L. The disks are dilute; the summed area
N πr2  L2 .

(a) A = (L−2r)2 is the effective area allowed for the disks in the box. The area
allowed for the second disk is A − π(2r)2 . Ignoring the small correction
when the excluded region around the first disk overlaps the excluded region
near the walls of the box. What is the allowed 2N -dimensional volume in
configuration space, of allowed zero-energy configurations of hard disks in
this dilute limit?
(b) What is the configurational entropy for the hard disks up to the first order
in the area of the disk a = πr2 ?
(c) Show, for large N , the configurational entropy is well approximated by
SQ = N kB (1 + log(A/N − b)) where b representing the effective excluded
area due to the other disks. Find b in terms of a.
(d) Find the pressure in the large N limit. Check if it reduces to the ideal gas
law when b = 0.

3. Consider a particle of energy

 E moving in a one-dimensional potential well
 dV 
V (q), such that m~  dq   {m(E − V )}3/2 . Show that the allowed values of
the momentum p of the particle are such that pdq = n + 21 h, where n is an
H

integer.

4. Study the statistical mechanics of an extreme relativisitic gas characterized by

hc

1/2
the single-particle energy states ε (nx , ny , nz ) = 2L n2x + n2y + n2z . Find the
ratio of CP /CV .