Homework sheet # 3

Statistical Physics (group # 3)

Academic year 2021-2022

1. Consider an ideal gas of molecules which follows the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution function
of velocities.
 
1
(a) Show that v v >1
 
kB T 8
(b) Show that the variance of the velocity of a molecule is (∆v)2 = m 3− π
(c) Obtain the distribution function for the kinetic energy of the center of mass of a molecule
ϵ = mv 2 /2, and show that its variance is (∆ϵ)2 = 23 (kB T )2
(d) Evaluate the most probable value of the energy ϵ̃. Is ϵ̃ = mṽ 2 /2, where ṽ is the most
probable value of the velocity of a molecule?

2. Consider a gas of molecules which follows the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution function of veloc-
ities with a temperature T and enclosed in an cylinder with a piston of cross section A on the top.
The piston moves upwards with velocity u very small in comparison with the typical molecular
velocities, so the gas expansion can be regarded as quasi-static and adiabatic. Neglecting any
effect of gravity

(a) Show that each molecule which hits the piston with velocity v and angle of incidence θ is
reflected with a loss of kinetic energy given by 2mvu cos θ.
(b) Show that the kinetic energy loss per unit time of the gas is given by −Ė = pAu = pV̇ ,
where p is the gas pressure and V̇ is the gas volume increment per unit time.

3. Between the interior of a metal and the exterior there is a electric potential energy difference
W > 0. When the metal is heated to a temperature T , the electrons can escape through the
metal surface if their energy is enough to overcome the potential energy barrier. If the electronic
density is n = N/V , and considering that the conduction electrons do not interact each other
and follow a Maxwellian distribution function of velocities, show that the current density across
the surface is given by s
kB T W
 
J = ne exp −
2πm kB T
where e is the electron charge.

4. Consider a gas of N molecules which follows the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution function of

velocities, and it is enclosed in a volume V . On one of its walls, a very small hole of area A is
opened, so molecules can escape via effusion. If we suppose that only molecules which approach
the hole with a small angle of incidence can escape, calculate the distribution Fef (v)dv, which
is the mean number of molecules per area and time unit which escape through the hole with
velocity between v and v + dv. Find the root-mean-square velocity vr.m.s. of these molecules,
and show that their mean energy is larger than the corresponding value inside the volume.

5. An ideal gas enclosed in a volume V is in an stationary state characterized by the following

distribution function of velocities
3/2 " #
m mv 2

f (v) = n (1 + ϵ cos θ) exp −
2πkB T 2kB T
where n = N/V is the particle density, m is the molecular mass, T the temperature, θ the angle
which the velocity vector v forms with the z axis and ϵ a positive constant. How many molecules
per time unit go across a area unit on the xy plane in each direction (decreasing and increasing
values of z)? From this result, what can be said about the macroscopic state of the gas? Is this
gas in equilibrium? Explain your answer.