Partition Function of 1-, 2-, and 3-D Monatomic Ideal Gas: A Simple and Comprehensive Review

Jurnal Pengajaran Fisika Sekolah Menengah ISSN 1979-4959
Vol. x, No.y, Bulan 20zz

1
Partition function of 1, 2, and 3D monatomic ideal gas:
A simple and comprehensive review
Siti Nurul Khotimah
a,*
dan Sparisoma Viridi
a

a
Nuclear Physics and Biophysics Research Division, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
Institut Teknologi Bandung, Jalan Ganeca 10 Bandung 40132, Indonesia

*
nurul@fi.itb.ac.id

Diterima Editor : xxxx
Diputuskan Publikasi : xxx

Abstract
This article discusses partition function of monatomic ideal gas which is given in Statistical Physisc at Physics Department,
Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia. Students in general are not familiar
with partition function. This unfamiliarness was detected at a problem of partition function which was re-given in an
examination in other dimensions that had been previously given in the lecture. Based on this observation, the need of a
simple but comprehensive article about partition function in one-, two-, and three-dimensions is a must. For simplicity, a
monatomic ideal gas is chosen.

Keywords: statistical physics, partition function, monatomic ideal gas
Abstrak
Artikel ini membahas fungsi partisi Gas ideal monoatomik yang diberikan di kuliah fisika Statistik pada Program Studi
Fisika, Fakultas Matematika dan Ilmu Pengetahuan Alam, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia. Peserta kuliah pada
umumnya tidak terbiasa dengan bahasan fungsi partisi. Ketidakbiasaan ini teramati pada soal tentang fungsi partisi ketika
diberikan kembali dalam ujian dengan dimensi yang berbeda dari yang telah diberikan sebelumnya dalam kuliah.
Berdasarkan pengamatan ini terdapat kebutuhan akan adanya sebuah artikel mengenai fungsi partisi dalam kasus satu-,
dua-, dan tiga-dimensi. Gas ideal monoatomik dipilih agar sederhana.

Kata Kunci: fisika statistik, fungsi partisi, gas ideal monoatomik

1. Introduction
Partition function for monatomic ideal gas is
commonly discussed for three-dimensional case [1], but it
is also interesting, in analogy and mathematical point of
view, to discuss it in one- or two-dimension. Partition
function can be viewed as volume in n-space occupied by
a canonical ensemble [2], where in our case the canonical
ensemble is the monatomic ideal gas system.
In order to understand this work reader must
already familiar with -integral and its relation with
factorial ! n [3].

2. Theory
In general, a system of particles which obeys
Maxwell-Boltzmann statistics, has a definition for
partition function as:

=
j
kT
j
j
e g Z
/
. (1)

When there are
j
G energy states within the macrolevel
then Equation (1) will turn into

=
j
kT
j
j
e G Z
/
. (2)

Energy of each particle, using the principle of quantum
mechanics for single particle in a box, is given by [4]

2
3 / 2 2
8
j j
n
m
V h

= . (3)

For 3-D case as illustrated in Figure 1(a), it can be written
that
a
r
X
i
v
:
1
1
0
6
.
1
2
7
3
v
2

[
p
h
y
s
i
c
s
.
p
o
p
-
p
h
]

1
9

A
u
g

2
0
1
1

JPFSM Vol. x, No. y, Bulan 20zz

2

3 ) 3 (
3
4
8
1
j j
n G = , (4)

then number of states of particles which have quantum
number between
j
n and
j j
n n + or have energy
between
j
and
j j
+ is

j j j
n n G =
2 ) 3 (
2
1
. (5)

Substitution Equation (5) into Equation (2) will give:

=
j
kT
j j
j
e n n Z
/ 2 ) 3 (
2
1
. (6)

Figure 1. n-space for case of: (a) one-, (b) two-, and (c)
three-dimensional monatomic ideal gas.

By using Equation (3) into Equation (6) and write the
result in continuous form

|
|
\
|
=
0
2
3 / 2 2
2 ) 3 (
8
exp
2
j j j
dn n
mkT
V h
n Z

. (7)

The -integral and its relation will give immediately the
result of Equation (7) in a form of

2 / 3
2
) 3 (
2
|
\
|
=
h
mkT
V Z

. (8)

Then, the next is 2-D case as illustrated in Figure 1(b).
This case will give:

2 ) 2 (
4
1
j j
n G = , (9)

then number of state of particles which have quantum
number between
j
n and
j j
between
j
and
j j
+ is

j j j
n n G =
2
1
) 2 (
. (10)

Substitution Equation (10) into Equation (2) will give

=
j
kT
j j
j
e n n Z
/
) 2 (
2
1
. (11)

Following previous steps for 3-D case, but by using
1
A
instead of
3 / 2
V , we can arrive at:

|
|
\
|
=
0
2
1 2
) 2 (
8
exp
2
j j j
dn n
mkT
A h
n Z

, (12)
This gives

2 / 2
2
) 2 (
2
|
\
|
=
h
mkT
A Z

. (13)

Finally by following the similar steps we can obtain that
for 1-D case as illustrated in Figure 1(c)

j j
n G =
) 1 (
, (14)

then number of state of particles which have quantum
number between
j
n and
j j
between
j
and
j j
+ is

j j
n G =
) 1 (
. (15)

Substitution Equation (15) into Equation (2) will give

n
x

O
n
j

n
j

(c)
n
x

n
y

O
n
j

n
j

(b)
n
x

n
y

n
z

O
n
j

n
j

(a)

3

=
j
kT
j
j
e n Z
/
) 1 (

. (16)

Then following similar steps for 3- and 2-D case but by
using
2
L instead of
3 / 2
V , it is obtained that:

|
|
\
|
=
0
2
2 2
) 1 (
8
exp
j j
dn n
mkT
L h
Z
, (17)
This gives

2 / 1
2
) 1 (
2
|
\
|
=
h
mkT
L Z

. (18)

Equation (7), (12), and (17) can be solved using the
following relations [3]

! ) ( ) 1 (
0
n n n dx e x n
x n
= = = +

, (19)

1 ) 1 ( = , (20)

,
2
1
= |
\
|
(21)

and
|
\
| +
=
+
2
1
2
1
2 / ) 1 (
0
2
n
a
dx e x
n
ax n
. (22)

3. Results and Discussions
It can be seen from Equation (8), (13), and (18)
that there is a regularity in writing the partition function
of monatomic ideal gas for 1-, 2-, and 3-D case as shown
in Table 1.

Table 1. Comparison of partition function of monatomic
ideal gas for 1-, 2-, and 3-D case.

Case Partition function
1-D
2 / 1
2
) 1 (
2
|
\
|
=
h
mkT
L Z

2-D
2 / 2
2
) 2 (
2
|
\
|
=
h
mkT
A Z

3-D
2 / 3
2
) 3 (
2
|
\
|
=
h
mkT
V Z

We can then say that the partition function of monatomic
ideal gas can be written in general form, which is

2 /
2
) (
2
D
D D
h
mkT
L Z |
\
|
=

, (23)

where D , which is the dimension, can have value of 1, 2,
or 3. Then thermodynamics property that similar to
pressure p in 3-D case can also be defined in 2- and 1-D
case. This property usually derived from Helmholtz free
energy F , which is related to partition function through

) ( ) (
ln
D D
Z NkT F = (24)

and then

T
D
D
T
D
D
D
L
Z
NkT
L
F
p
(
=
(
=
) ( ) (
) (
ln
. (25)

Table 2. Comparasion of pressure-like thermodynamics
properties for monatomic ideal gas for 1-, 2-, and 3-D
case.

Case
Pressure-like
properties
Unit (SI)
1-D
L
NkT
F p =
) 1 (
kgms
2

2-D
A
NkT
p =
) 2 (
kgs
2

3-D
V
NkT
p p =
) 3 (
kgm
1
s
2

We can then write a bit more generality the equation in
Table 2 as follows:
( ) D D
D
V
NkT
L
NkT
p = =
) (
(26)
Where
( ) 1
L L and
( ) D D
L V = is the volume of the D-
dimensional domain occupied by the gas. Physically,
( )
F p
1
is a just a force exerted at the two endpoints
of a segment of length L;
( )

2
p is the surface tension
exerted along the closed line which is the boundary of the
area A where the gas is confined; and
( )
p p
3
is the
well-known outward-pointing pressure of the gas, exerted
at its two dimensional boundary.

Table 3. Equation of state for monatomic ideal gas for 1-,
2-, and 3-D case.

Case Equation of state
1-D NkT FL =
2-D NkT A =
3-D NkT pV =

Table 3 shows us the equation of state of monatomic ideal
gas for 1-, 2-, and 3-D case. The 3-D case is the most
familiar form for the students, while this form is already
taught since at senior high school.

4

Problems usually arise when the students do not
understand where Equation (4), (9), and (14) are
originated from and also why Equation (3) is needed. In
this case the role of lecture is very important to guide
them in the lecture.
It can be illustrated for 3-D case that Equation (4)
is actually
8
1
volume of a sphere with radius
j
n and
Equation (5) is
8
1
volume of a shell of the sphere with
radius
j
n and thickness
j
n . Figure 1(a) shows the
illustration. The number
8
1
appears since we consider
only positive value of
x
n ,
y
n , and
z
n , which lies only in
one octane or
8
1
of total volume of the sphere, as this
approach of explanation is suggested [1].
Following the approach for 2-D case as illustrated
in Figure 1(b), Equation (9) is area with positive value of
x
n and
y
n and radius
j
n , and Equation (10) is area of a
ring with radius
j
n and thickness
j
n . The number
4
1

arise since we consider only one quadrant or
4
1
or the
total area.
Then, finally for 1-D case as illustrated in Figure
1(c), Equation (14) is length of
j
n and Equation (15) is a
region with thickness
j
n . Since
x
n is replaced by
j
n then it has already only positive value.
So, perhaps it is also necessary to give an
common picture about relation of
j
n with
x
n ,
y
n , and
z
n in case of 1-, 2-, and 3-D case and also the factor 1,
4
1
,
and
8
1
. Table 4 gives the illustration.

Table 4. Expression of
j
n and the factor in front of
Equation (5), (9), and (14) for 1-, 2-, and 3-D case
respectively.

Case n
j
Factor
1-D
2 2
x j
n n =
1
2-D
2 2 2
y x j
n n n + =
4
1

3-D
2 2 2 2
z y x j
n n n n + + =
8
1

4. Conclusion
The partition function of monatomic ideal gas
system for 1-, 2-, and 3-D case has been reviewed and
compared. General formulation has also been shown.
Brief and simple explanation how theses partition
functions derived is also given in order to help the
students to understand it with olny few efforts.

Acknowledgments
Authors would like to thank to Raul A. Simon
(Santiago, Chile) for his valuable comment on the the
physical interpretation of pressure like properties of the
different dimensional cases. Authors also would like to
thank to Kelompok Pendidikan Fisika at Physics
Department, Insitut Teknologi Bandung for the friendly
discussion atmosphere and Hibah Kapasitas FMIPA.PN-
6-18-2010 for partially support to this work.

References
[1] F.W. Sears and G. L. Salinger, Thermodynamics,
Kinetic Theory, and Statistical Thermodynamics,
Addison-Wesley Pub. Co., Reading, Fifth Printing,
1980, pp. 350-352
[2] K Huang, Statistical Mechanics, John Wiley &
Sons, New York, Second Edition, 1987, pp. 144
[3] A.J. Pointon, An Introduction to Statistical
Physics for Students, Longman, London, First
Published, 1967, pp. 189-191
[4] F. Reif, Statistical Physics, Berkeley Physics
Course Volume 5, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New
York, Third Print, 1967, pp. 103-105

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Jurnal Pengajaran Fisika Sekolah Menengah ISSN 1979-4959

Vol. x, No.y, Bulan 20zz

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