Department of Physics & Astrophysics

M. Sc. (Prev), Semester II, Year 2020

Statistical Mechanics (PH-CT407)
Tutorial sheet - 2

𝜕𝑈
1) Consider a simple fluid at constant pressure. Show that the Heat Capacity, 𝐶𝑃 = ( 𝜕𝑇 ) + 𝛼𝑉𝑃. Since
𝑃
the thermal expansion coefficient 𝛼 can be either positive or negative, CP could be either less than or
𝜕𝑈
greater than ( 𝜕𝑇 ) .
𝑃
2) A two dimensional film has a surface tension t given by t(T,A)= −N k T / (A – y ) where y is a constant
with the units of area.
a) Show that the constant area heat capacity CA is independent of area at a particular temperature T.
b) Show that the internal energy of the film is a function of temperature alone.
c) Find an expression for the energy in terms of the heat capacity.
3) Consider a cavity at thermal equilibrium. If P is the pressure due to radiation field inside the cavity,
calculate the work done on the radiation field as the cavity is taken between states (V1, T1) and (V2, T2)
along the two paths a and b shown in the diagram below. The pressure P depends only on the
1
temperature T of the cavity and can be expressed as 𝑃 = 3 𝜎𝑇 4 , where 𝜎 is a constant.

5
4) Consider an ideal gas for which the heat capacity at constant volume 𝐶𝑉 = 2 Nk. The state of the
system is taken from point a to b in the figure (given below) along three different paths adb, ab and
𝜕𝑈
acb. Assume P2=2P1, V2=2V1 and (𝜕𝑉 ) = 0.
𝑇

a) Estimate the heat supplied to the gas in terms of N, k, and T1 for all three processes (paths).
b) What is the heat capacity of the gas for the process ab?