STATISTICAL PHYSICS
List of Problems
Problems of chapter 3
3.1. a. What is the phase trajectory of an one-dimention harmonic oscillator.
b. Derive the phase volume (as a function of energy) of an one-dimention
harmonic oscillator.
3.2. Find the phase volume of an ideal gas particle which freely moves in a container
of volume 𝑉. Then derive the phase volume of an ideal gas consisting of N particles.
3.3. Determine the phase volume (as a function of energy) of a N-particle system
contained in the volume V. Supposing that momentum 𝑝 of particle relates to its
energy 𝜀 by the relation 𝜀 = 𝑐𝑝, where 𝑐 is the speed of light in vacuum.
3.4. Determine the phase volume (as a function of energy) of a N-particle system
contained in the volume 𝑉. Supposing that momentum 𝑝 of particle relates to its
energy 𝜀 by the relation 𝜀 = √𝑐 (𝑚 𝑐 + 𝑝 ) , where 𝑐 is the speed of light in
vacuum.
Problems of chapter 4
4.1. From the relation
̅ ̅= +
prove that
̅=
4.2. The partition function of a hypothetical system is given by
= 𝑉
where a is a constant. Evaluate the mean energy , the pressure , and the entropy .
4.3. Show that the partition function of two independent distinguishable systems 1
and 2 both in equilibrium with a heat bath at temperature equals the product of the
partition functions of the separated system
=
4.4. Determine the thermodynamic properties (such as ̅ ) of a onedimensional
harmonic oscillator in equilibrium with a heat bath at temperature .
Review Questions of chapter 4
1. Distinguish three classical statistical distributions (microcanoical, canonical and grand
canonical distributions).
2. Write the equation that describes the relation between statistical physics and
thermodynamics.
3. Recall how to calculate the thermodynamic quantities (including ̅ ̅) using the
free energy or the grand canonical potential .
PROBLEMS OF CHAPTER 5
5.1. Find the probability distribution for the absolute magnitude of the velocity of
an atom, and then the mean square fluctuation and the mean value of the nth power
of .
5.2. Find the probability distribution for the kinetic energy of an atom, and then the
mean energy, the mean square energy, and the mean square fluctuation of the
kinetic energy of an atom.
5.3. Find the probability distribution for the angular velocities of rotation of a
molecule, and then the mean squares of the angular velocity and angular
momentum of a molecule.
5.4. Find the momentum distribution of particles for a extremely relativistic ideal
gas, and then the standard deviation.
5.5. Find the density of gas in a cylinder of radius and length rotating about its
axis with angular velocity , there being a total of molecules in the cylinder.
5.6. Consider a classical ideal gas in equilibrium at temperature in the presence of
a uniform gravitational field. Find the probability ( ) that an atom is at a height
between and + above the earth's surface. How do the density and the
pressure depend on ?
5.7. Find the energy, pressure of an ideal gas in a cylindrical vessel of radius and
length rotating about its axis with angular velocity .
5.8. Find the specic heat of an ideal gas in the extreme relativistic case, where the
energy of a particle is related to its momentum by 𝜀 = 𝑐𝑝, 𝑐 being the velocity of
light.
5.9. Consider a classical one-dimensional oscillator whose energy is given by
𝑝
𝜀= +
𝑚
where 𝑝 and 𝑚 have their usual meanings; the parameter is a constant.
(a) If the oscillator is in equilibrium with a heat bath at temperature T, calculate the
mean kinetic energy, the mean potential energy, and the mean total energy of the
oscillator.
(b) Consider a classical one-dimensional oscillator whose energy is given by
𝑝
𝜀= + +
𝑚
In this case the anharmonic contribution is very small. What is the leading
contribution of this term to the mean potential energy?
Notes: Special integrals used in this course
Gamma integral:
( + )=∫
The value of Gamma function
If ,
( )=( )
If = + where ,
( )
( )= ( + )= √
Poisson integral
( )
=∫ = √
=∫ =
