Homework sheet # 1

Statistical Physics (group # 3)

Academic year 2021-2022

1. Let’s consider a macroscopic system at room temperature. Estimate the change of the phase
volume Γ(E) if the system absorbs a photon in the visible range with wavelength λ = 5×10−5 cm.

2. Evaluate the entropy SN (E, ν) = kB ln ΩN (E, ν) of an ideal system of N distinguishable, monodi-

mensional harmonic oscillators, each of them with mass m and natural frequency ν. Use that
ΩN (E, ν) is defined as
1
Z
ΩN (E, ν) = N dpdqδ(E − HN (q, p))
h
Alternatively, use the composition rule
Z E
(1+2) (1) (2)
ΩN1 +N2 (E) = dE1 ΩN1 (E1 )ΩN2 (E − E1 )
0
R1 Γ(x)Γ(y)
Hint: Euler’s beta function: B(x, y) ≡ 0 dttx−1 (1 − t)y−1 = Γ(x+y)

3. Evaluate the entropy of a monodimensional ideal gas of distinguishable particles on an uniform

gravitational field. Suppose that the particles move on the positive real semiaxis z > 0.
(1+2) RE (1) (2)
Hint: Use the composition rule ΩN1 +N2 (E) = 0 dE1 ΩN1 (E1 )ΩN2 (E − E1 ).

4. Let’s consider an ideal classic system of 2N distinguishable harmonic oscillators, N of them with
a characteristic frequency ν1 and the other N with frequency ν2 . Evaluate the entropy of the
system S2N (E, ν1 , ν2 ).

5. A system consists of N1 indistinguishable atoms of type 1 and N2 indistinguishable atoms of

type 2 confined within a box of volume V . The molecules are supposed to interact very weakly
so that they constitute an ideal gas mixture. Evaluate the entropy and the equation of state of
the system.

6. Let’s consider a gas of N indistinguishable diatomic molecules enclosed in a volume V , with a

total energy E. The Hamiltonian of the system is
N
" 2
p22,i
#
p1,i 1
+ K (r1,i − r2,i )2
X
H= +
i=1
2m1 2m2 2

where m1 and m2 are the masses of the atoms which compose each molecule, ri,j and pi,j are
the position and momentum of the atom i of the molecule j, respectively. Evaluate the phase
volume Γ(E), the temperature in terms of E and the equation of state.

7. Obtain the entropy, temperature and equation of state of an extreme relativistic ideal gas of N
particles (H = Ni=1 c|pi |) enclosed in a (three-dimensional) volume V and with energy E.
P

8. Consider two systems that are initially isolated. The first system is an ideal gas of N1 particles
with energy E1 , and the other one is composed by N2 monodimensional, non-interacting har-
monic oscillators with energy E2 . At certain point, both systems are put in thermal contact,
keeping the combined system isolated. After equilibration, evaluate
 (a) The most-probable energy of both systems in the final equilibrium state.
(b) The absorbed heat by the ideal gas.
(c) The probability of the ideal gas to have an energy between E1 and E1 + dE1 .
(d) The energy variance of the ideal gas.
(e) The ratio between the energy standard deviation and its mean value in the ideal gas if
N2 ≫ N1 .

9. In a simplified model of a gas of particles, the system is divided into V cells of unit volume.
Find the number of ways to distribute N distinguishable particles (with 0 ≤ N ≤ V ) within V
cells, such that each cell may be either empty or filled up by only one particle. How would your
answer be modified for indistinguishable particles?

10. Let’s consider an isolated system of N independent particles. Each particle can be in two states
of energies ϵ1 and ϵ2 > ϵ1 . The total energy of the system is known to be E.

(a) Evaluate the entropy and the temperature of the system as a function of E.
(b) Determine the value of E which maximizes the entropy.
(c) Consider the case ϵ1 = −ϵ2 . Show that the absolute temperature is negative if E > 0.

11. Consider an isolated system of N independent, identical, distinguishable particles. Each particle
can be in one of three different possible states of energies ϵ1 = ϵ2 = 0 and ϵ3 = ϵ > 0. The total
energy of the system is E.

(a) Evaluate the entropy and the temperature of the system as a function of E.
(b) Can this system have negative absolute temperatures? If so, determine the range of values
of E for which the absolute temperature of the system is negative.
(c) Evaluate the mean number of particles ni which are in the state i = 1, 2 and 3.

12. Let’s consider a system of N indistinguishable particles which can occupy the nodes of two
lattices A and B. Suppose that each lattice has N nodes, and that the energy of the particle is
zero in lattice A, and ϵ in lattice B. Evaluate ΩN (E), the entropy per particle and the energy
equation.

13. An isolated system, S1 , of total energy E1 is composed by N1 monodimensional non-interacting

classical harmonic oscillators, of angular frequency ω and mass m. Another isolated system, S2 ,
of total energy E2 , is composed by N2 localized particles, each of them being in two possible
states: A, with energy ϵA = 0, and B, with energy ϵB > 0. If both systems are placed into
thermal contact, obtain the equation which determines the macroscopic energy E1f inal of the S1
system when the thermal equilibrium is reached.