Use a computer to plot formula 2.22directly, as follows. Define z=q_{A}/q, so that (1-z)=q_{B}/q. Then, aside from an overall constant that we'll ignore, the multiplicity function is [4z(1-z)]N, where zranges from 0to1and the factor of 4ensures that the height of the peak is equal to 1for any N. Plot this function forN=1,10,100,1000, and 10,000. Observe how the width of the peak decreases asNincreases.

Short Answer

Expert verified

The width of the peak decreases as Nincreases.

Step by step solution

01

High temperature 

For large systems at high temperatures, so that q>>Nwe have the approximate formula:

ΩqeNN

If we now have two such solids and allow them to interact, the number of microstates for the combined system for any given macrostate (that is, a given division of the total energy q=q_{A}+q_{B} between the two solids) is just the product of the numbers for the two separate solids:

ΩqAeNANAqBeNBNB

We've already seen that the most probable state for a pair of interacting solids is the state in which the energy quanta are distributed evenly between the two systems, so that qAqB=NANB Our goal is to investigate how likely it is that the distribution of energy will deviate significantly from this most probable state. To make things simpler, we'll take N_{A}=NB=Nso that both solids are the same size. Then:

ΩeqANNeqBNN=e2N2NqAqBN

02

The shape of this curve

but, q_{B}=q-q_{A}, so:

Ωe2N2NqAq-qAN

With Nheld constant, the shape of this curve is determined by the qAq-qAN, factor. If we pull out a factor of q2, we get:

qAq-qAN=q2qAq1-qAqNqAq-qAN=q2NqAq1-qAqN

qAq-qAN=qqAqq1-qAqN

let, z=qAq, we get:

qAq-qAN=q2N[z(1-z)]N

We can get a feel for how the curve's shape changes as we increase Nby plotting

[z(1-z)]N

for several values ofN

03

Graph of vertical change

zitself ranges from 0to 1and z(1-z)has a maximum value of 0.25a0.25t z=0.5, so we can scale the graph to a vertical range of 0to 1by inserting a factor of 4inside the parentheses. That is, we plot:

(4z(1-z))N

I used python to draw the graph, the code is illustrated in following picture

04

Shape of diagram

05

Curves of violet

The curves are forN=1N=10 (blue), (orange), N=100(green), N=1000(red) and N=10000(violet)

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Use the methods of this section to derive a formula, similar to equation2.21, for the multiplicity of an Einstein solid in the "low-temperature" limit,qN .

A black hole is a region of space where gravity is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape. Throwing something into a black hole is therefore an irreversible process, at least in the everyday sense of the word. In fact, it is irreversible in the thermodynamic sense as well: Adding mass to a black hole increases the black hole's entropy. It turns out that there's no way to tell (at least from outside) what kind of matter has gone into making a black hole. Therefore, the entropy of a black hole must be greater than the entropy of any conceivable type of matter that could have been used to create it. Knowing this, it's not hard to estimate the entropy of a black hole.
aUse dimensional analysis to show that a black hole of mass Mshould have a radius of order GM/c2, where Gis Newton's gravitational constant and cis the speed of light. Calculate the approximate radius of a one-solar-mass black holeM=2×1030kg .
bIn the spirit of Problem 2.36, explain why the entropy of a black hole, in fundamental units, should be of the order of the maximum number of particles that could have been used to make it.

cTo make a black hole out of the maximum possible number of particles, you should use particles with the lowest possible energy: long-wavelength photons (or other massless particles). But the wavelength can't be any longer than the size of the black hole. By setting the total energy of the photons equal toMc2 , estimate the maximum number of photons that could be used to make a black hole of mass M. Aside from a factor of 8π2, your result should agree with the exact formula for the entropy of a black hole, obtained* through a much more difficult calculation:

Sb.h.=8π2GM2hck

d Calculate the entropy of a one-solar-mass black hole, and comment on the result.

The natural logarithm function, ln, is defined so that elnx=xfor any positive numberx.
aSketch a graph of the natural logarithm function.
b Prove the identities
localid="1650331641178" lnab=lna+lnbandlocalid="1650331643409" lnab=blna
(c) Prove thatlocalid="1650331645612" ddxlnx=1x.
(d) Derive the useful approximation

localid="1650331649052" ln(1+x)x

which is valid when localid="1650331651790" |x|1. Use a calculator to check the accuracy of this approximation for localid="1650331654235" x=0.1and localid="1650331656447" x=0.01.

The mixing entropy formula derived in the previous problem actually applies to any ideal gas, and to some dense gases, liquids, and solids as well. For the denser systems, we have to assume that the two types of molecules are the same size and that molecules of different types interact with each other in the same way as molecules of the same type (same forces, etc.). Such a system is called an ideal mixture. Explain why, for an ideal mixture, the mixing entropy is given by

ΔSmixing=klnNNA

where Nis the total number of molecules and NAis the number of molecules of type A. Use Stirling's approximation to show that this expression is the same as the result of the previous problem when both Nand NAare large.

For each of the following irreversible processes, explain how you can tell that the total entropy of the universe has increased.
a Stirring salt into a pot of soup.
b Scrambling an egg.
c Humpty Dumpty having a great fall.
d A wave hitting a sand castle.
e Cutting down a tree.
fBurning gasoline in an automobile.

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