PH-ET 584: Soft Matter Physics - Semester IV

Tutorial Sheet I – Feb 2022

1. A tube containing a solution is rotated and the heavier component, assumed to be the
solute is pushed outward by the centrifugal force. If m is the effective mass of the solute
molecule,  is the angular velocity and x is the distance from the rotation centre,
determine (i) the centrifugal force acting on the particle (ii) the potential energy U(x) of
the solute molecule and (iii) the probability P(x) of finding the solute particle at x.

2. In the above problem assume that the solute molecules are polymers made of N particles
with m being the monomer mass. Consider a polyacetylene molecule [C 2H2]N, whose
monomer [C2H2] of molar mass is 26 gm/mol and the tube is rotated at a frequency of 300
Hz. Plot P(x) as a function of x at room temperature for N =1, 10, 100, 1000, 10000 and
100000 and analyze the result. What is the role of the frequency of rotation?

3. Draw the structure of graphite and identify the C-C distance, the layer distance and the
interatomic forces in graphite indicating the type of crystal binding. Determine the
strength of the interaction between the layers.

4. Show that for solution mixture having v p, p and vs, s specific volume and chemical
potential of solute and solvent respectively and the volume fraction 

(dp/d) = vp(1-)(d2f/d2) and (ds/d) = vs(1-)(d2f/d2)

where, f() is the free energy density. Comment on the relevance or consequence of the
above expression for a homogenous solution.

5. If the osmatic pressure for a dilute solution (solute concentration sufficiently low) can be
expressed in terms of the free energy density f()
() = (kBT/vp) + A22 + A33 + ……
Show that f() = fo + ko + (kBT/vp) ln + A22 + A33 + ….. where, fo and ko are
independent of .

6. Estimate the weight concentration (c), weight fraction () and molar fraction xm of 10 gm
of sugar (molecular wt. 500 gm/mole) dissolved in 200 ml of water. Estimate the osmatic
pressure of the solution.

Be ready by next week (14th to 19th February)