Physics 4311: Thermal Physics – Test 1


Friday, Feb 27, 2026

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Problem 1: Short questions (15 points each = 45 points)

a)

P =( 4 2)(1∕4)2(3∕4)2 = 27∕128

b)

Φ = 1 4n⟨v⟩∼ 1 m

Φ𝑁𝑒∕Φ𝐴𝑟 = m𝐴𝑟 ∕m𝑁𝑒 = 2

c)

λ = 1 2𝑛𝜎

n stays constant upon changing T ⇒ λ unchanged

Problem 2: Molecules on surface (60 points)

a), b), c)

p𝑢𝑝 = e−𝛽𝜖 2 + e−𝛽𝜖 ,px = 1 2 + e−𝛽𝜖 ,py = 1 2 + e−𝛽𝜖

d)

T → 0, 𝛽 →∞  ⇒  p𝑢𝑝 → 0

e)

T →∞, 𝛽 → 0  ⇒  p𝑢𝑝 → 1∕3

a)

⟨E⟩ = 𝜖e−𝛽𝜖 2 + e−𝛽𝜖

b)

T → 0, 𝛽 →∞  ⇒  ⟨E⟩→ 0

c)

T →∞, 𝛽 → 0  ⇒  ⟨E⟩→ 𝜖∕3

Problem 3: Two-dimensional ideal gas (45 points)

a)

g(vx,vy) = m 2πkBTe−𝛽𝑚v→2∕2

b)

⟨E⟩ = m 2 (⟨vx2⟩ + ⟨v y2⟩) = k BT

c)

f(E) = ∫ dvxdvyg(vx,vy)δ(E − m(vx2 + v y2)∕2) = m 2πkBT∫ 𝑣𝑑𝑣𝑑𝜙e−1 2mv2∕kBT δ(E − mv2∕2) = m kBT∫ 0∞𝑑𝑥 m e−𝛽𝑥δ(E − x) = 1 kBTe−E∕kBT

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∫ −∞∞𝑑𝑥 e−1 2x2∕σ2 = (2πσ2)1∕2 ∫ −∞∞𝑑𝑥 x2e−1 2x2∕σ2 = (2πσ2)1∕2σ2

∫ 0∞𝑑𝑥xe−𝑎𝑥 = 1∕a2,∫ 0∞𝑑𝑥x2e−𝑎𝑥 = 2∕a3,∫ 0∞𝑑𝑥x3e−𝑎𝑥 = 6∕a4,∫ 0∞𝑑𝑥x4e−𝑎𝑥 = 24∕a5