Problem 7.21 Reif We found in Problem 7.

20b that the translational kinetic energy probablility density ( ) for a gas with a Maxwellian speed distribution was given by the function 3/2 1 ]. (1) ( ) = 2 exp[ kT kT The most probably energy e is the one that maximizes the value of ( ). Thus, we need to nd the rst derivative of ( ) and set it equal to zero to determine e. d ( ) = 0. (2) d =h We can ignore the multiplicative constants in Eq.(1). Then we nd ! d ( ) e e 1 = exp[ ] = 0. d kT kT 2 e =h e = kT /2. (3)

It is curious that the most probable energy is only 1/3 the value of the mean energy (3kT /2). If we compare e with m(v e)2 /2, where v e is the most probable speed (2kT /m)1/2 , we nd e < m(v e)2 /2 = kT. (5) The lack of equality is reasonable because e is the most probable value of mv 2 /2, and the most probable value of v 2 is not equal to the square of the most probable value of v , e 2 6= (v e)2 . (6) v

Upon solving for e, we obtain

(4)