Shri Shivaji Science College

Amravati

Name : - Suraj Devidas

Dhunde
Seminar Topic : - Einstein’s Theory
Of
Specific Heat
Session : - 2021 - 22
 Index

 Introduction

 Assumptions

 Derivation

 Failures
Introduction : -

The classical Theory failed to explain that why in

the low temperature range The specific heat of
solids is found to be zero. According to classical
theory of specific heat of solids, the atoms in the
solids are considered as simple harmonic oscillator
vibrating independently and having continuous
energy between zero to infinity. The discripency in
the theory of specific heat was investigated by
Einstein in 1906 by applying Plank’s Quantum
theory.
 Assumption’s : -

• All the Atom’s in solid are

independent harmonic oscillator‘s.

• Each atom has 3 degree of freedom

and thus N oscillator have 3N
degrees of freedom.

• All atom’s vibrate with same

natural frequency.
• The energy spectrum of
harmonic oscillator is not
continuous but discreet given by
The first term is called zero point energy which is independent
of temprature. Thus vibrational energy is not zero at absolute
zero temprature.
Now total vibrational energy of N –
harmonic oscillator having 3N degree of
freedom is
Which is dulong-petit law.
Hence Einstein‘s Theory of
specific Heat matches with
experimental fact at high as well
as low temprature.
 Failures of Einstein’s Theory Of
Specific Heat : -
• At low temperature the Einstein’s curve
deviates from the experimentally observed
curve. This discrepancy between theoretical
result and was assumed to be oversimplified
• in this model.
According to Einstein all oscillator vibrates
independently with same frequency. In
reality vibration’s of perticular atom must
be very complex as each atom is solid under
influence of number of forces by other
atoms.
 References : -

• Introduction to Solids, L V Azaroff

(Tata-McGraw Hill, 1984).
• Statistical Mechanics,
K.Huang, Wiley Eastern
Limited.
• Statistical mechanics, James
Woods Halley, Cambridge
University Press.