Homework sheet # 2

Statistical Physics (group # 3)

1. Consider an extreme relativistic gas of N point particles enclosed in a three-dimensional volume

the mean energy per particle.

2. An ideal gas of distinguishable particles is enclosed in a box of volume V and in contact with
a thermal bath of temperature T . In one half of the box (of volume V1 = V /2), the potential
energy of the particles has a constant value U , and it vanishes on the other half.

(a) Calculate the canonical partition function of the system.

3. Let’s consider a fluid of N particles enclosed in a volume V and at a temperature T . The local
density of particles n(r) and the pair distribution function g(r, r′ ) are defined as

N N X
1X
g(r, r′ ) =
X
n(r) = δ(r − ri ) δ(r − ri )δ(r′ − rj )
i=1
n2 i=1 j̸=i

where the average is in the canonical ensemble and n = N/V . Calculate n(r) and g(r, r′ ) for an
ideal gas. From this result, obtain the variance of the center of mass position R, |R|2 − |R|2 , if
the volume is a sphere of radius a.

4. Determine the partition function of an ideal gas of N particles of mass m under the action of a
gravitational field g. The gas is enclosed in a box of volume V and cross section A, where the
upper and lower faces are located at heights z = zL and z = z0 , respectively, with L = zL − z0 .
Evaluate the mean energy, the specific heat, the local density n(r) and the equations of state
associated to the external parameters z0 and zL . Discuss the obtained results, paying special
attention to the limits T → 0 and T → ∞, and identify the parameter which characterize the
low and high temperatures regimes.

5. The classical Einstein model for solids is composed by N harmonic oscillators of mass m and
elastic constant K, with Hamiltonian
 
N
X 1p2j
HN =  + K(rj − r0j )2 
j=1
2m 2

where pj , rj are the momenta and positions of the lattice atoms, and r0j their equilibrium
positions. Evaluate the thermodynamic properties of the solid, the local density of particles,
and the variance of the positions of the particles with respect their equilibrium values.
 6. Consider the model of a solid composed by N particles with the following Hamiltonian
N p2i
!
X c  (0)

HN = + ln 1 + α(ri − ri )2
i=1
2m 2
(0)
where ri are the equilibrium positions of the particles of the solid, and c and α are constant.
If we suppose that the solid can be treated classically, calculate the Helmholtz free energy per
particle of the solid in terms of the beta function, defined as
tx−1
Z ∞
B(x, y) = dt
0 (1 + t)x+y
and the parameter γ = βc/2 = c/2kB T .
7. Consider a classical ideal gas composed by N diatomic molecules enclosed in a volume V at
temperature T . The Hamiltonian of the system is
 
N
X p21,i p22,i 1
HN ({ri,j }, {pi,j }) =  + + k(r1,i − r2,i )2 
i=1
2m1 2m2 2

where ri,j and pi,j are the position and momentum of the atom i of the molecule j, respectively.

(a) Evaluate the Helmholtz free energy, the entropy, the pressure and the constant volume heat
capacity of the gas.
(b) Calculate the mean distance between atoms on a molecule |r1,i − r2,i |, as well as the mean
squared distance |r1,i − r2,i |2 . What happens when k → 0?
8. Consider an ideal gas of N diatomic molecules enclosed in a volume V at temperature T . The
Hamiltonian of the system is
 
N
X p21,i p22,i
HN =  + + ϵ|r12,i − r0 |
i=1
2m1 2m2

where m is the mass of each atom of a molecule, ri,j and pi,j are the position and momentum
of the atom i of the molecule j, respectively, r12,i = |r1,i − r2,i |, and ϵ and r0 positive constants.
Evaluate
(a) The partition function and the equation of state.
(b) The mean energy.
(c) The constant volume heat capacity. Discuss its behaviour for high temperatures.
9. Consider a 3D classical ideal gas of N atoms of mass m enclosed in a volume V in equilibrium
at a temperature T . In addition to the translational degrees of freedom, each atom has two
internal states of energies of energy 0 and ϵ, respectively, where ϵ is a positive constant. Obtain
the mean energy of the gas and the equation of state.
10. Consider a system composed by N impenetrable spheres of diameter σ set in a frictionless rigid
wire. The wire has a stop at its left extreme, and it is infinitely long on the other direction. The
rightmost circle is subject to a constant force of modulus F directed towards the fixed extreme.
Calculate the partition function of the system in terms of N , F , σ, β and the mass m of the
spheres. If we assume that N ≫ 1, evaluate the heat capacity of the gas and the mean value
of the position of the rightmost sphere xN . Find the relationship between F and the density
n = N/xN .