UNIVERSITY OF LIMPOPO

FACULTY OF SCIENCE AND AGRICULTURE

SCHOOL OF PHYSICAL AND MINERAL SCIENCES

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS

DEGREE AND DIPLOMA EXAMINATION MAY/JUNE: 2019

MODULE: SPHB031 PAPER: P

(THERMODYNAMICS AND STATISTICAL PHYSICS)

TIME: 3 HOURS MARKS: 100

INTERNAL EXAMINER: DR OO NUBI

SECOND EXAMINER: DR MA MAHLADISA

EXTERNAL EXAMINER: DR. M TIBANE

(UNISA)

THIS PAPER CONSISTS OF …4…PAGES INCLUDING COVER PAGE

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Answer all questions. Number your answers correctly.

2. Any physical principle on which any answer is based must be clearly stated to earn full marks
for that answer.
3. Where mathematical answers are required, the working must be clearly shown.
4. Clearly drawn diagrams must be provided (except where not relevant) to earn full marks.
5. Unless otherwise stated, all symbols retain their usual meanings.
6. Marks obtainable are indicated in square brackets.
7. A table of constants, list of definite integrals, conversion factors and formulae are included on
the last page.
8. Write neatly and legibly.
 SPHB031 MAY/JUNE EXAMINATION 2018

QUESTION 1: (25 MARKS)

1.1 The differential of volume 𝑑𝑉 is said to be an exact differential.

(a) Mention 3 implications of this assertion. [6]
(b) Write down an expression that can be used to test this assertion. [1]

1.2 The van der Waals equation of state for real gases is given by:
𝑎
(𝑃 + 2 ) (𝑣 − 𝑏) = 𝑅𝑇
𝑣
(a) Show how to reconstruct in this equation in virial form. [6]
(b) From the expression in (a) determine the virial coefficients. [2]

1.3 Consider the typical variation of the molar specific heat capacities 𝑐𝑝 and 𝑐𝑣 of most solids with
temperature. By sketching a plot that demonstrates this, explain the characteristic behavior of
solids. (Remember to comment on the Dulong and Petit value ~25 x 103 J kmole-1 K-1). [10]

QUESTION 2: (25 MARKS)

5
2.1 Consider an ideal gas for which 𝑐𝑉 = 2 𝑅. The gas is taken slowly from an initial point 𝑎 to a final

point 𝑏 in such a manner as to double the pressure and volume, and trace out a straight line on
a 𝑃-𝑣 diagram (Figure 2.1). For this process,
(a) In terms of 𝑅 and 𝑇1 , determine the heat supplied to the gas, per mole. [10]
(b) Compute the molal specific heat capacity of the gas, in terms of 𝑅. [3]

Figure 2.1

2.2 Briefly describe the four principal thermodynamic potentials in terms of their thermodynamic
variables. [12]
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 SPHB031 MAY/JUNE EXAMINATION 2018

QUESTION 3: (25 MARKS)

3.1 In Thermodynamics, the thermodynamic variables of a system are related to the average
occupation numbers of its energy levels. Also, in Statistical Physics, the average occupation
numbers can be calculated for Bose-Einstein, Fermi-Dirac and Maxwell-Boltzmann statistics.

(a) Mention the property of a statistical model of a system that can be associated with its
entropy. [1]
(b) Derive an expression for the entropy of a system that provides the link between statistical
and classical thermodynamics. [7]

3.2 Consider an assembly of six indistinguishable particles obeying Bose-Einstein statistics. The
energy levels are equally spaced and have a degeneracy of 𝑔𝑗 = 3 each. The total energy of the
system is U = 7𝜖.
(a) Construct a diagram to illustrate the possible macrostates of the system. [6]
(b) Calculate the thermodynamic probability of each macrostate of the system [4]
(c) Show that the total number of possible microstates Ω is 2340. [3]
(d) Find the average occupation number of each level. [4]

QUESTION 4: (25 MARKS)

4.1 An experimental arrangement used for measuring the distribution of molecular speeds is shown
below in the Figure 4.1.
(a) Briefly explain how the apparatus operates.
(b) Describe the observed distribution of molecules that appear on the screen. [10]

Figure 4.1

4.2 In a metal, the valence electrons are not very strongly bound to individual atoms, and
consequently travel rather freely throughout the volume of the metal. By treating these electrons
as a “gas” that obeys the Fermi-Dirac distribution, show that the mean energy of the electrons
3
is 5th of the Fermi energy. [15]
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==END OF QUESTIONS==
 SPHB031 MAY/JUNE EXAMINATION 2018

TABLE OF CONSTANTS, CONVERSION FACTORS, FORMULAE, DEFINITE INTEGRALS…

Permittivity of free space 𝜖𝑜 = 8.854 x 10-12 farad/m

Permeability of free space 𝜇𝑜 = 4 𝜋 x 10-7 henry/m
Speed of light in vacuo c = 2.998 x 108 m/s
Electronic charge e = 1.602 x 10-19 C
Boltzmann constant k = 1.381 x 10-23 J/K = 8.617 x 10-5 eV/K
Planck’s constant h = 6.6261 x 10-34 J.s = 4.136 x 10-15 eV.s
Avogadro’s constant NA = 6.022 x 1023 mole-1
Electron mass me = 5.94 x 10-4 u = 0.511 MeV/c2
Proton mass mp = 1.007276 u = 938.3 MeV/c2
Neutron mass mn = 1.008665 u = 939.6 MeV/c2
Bohr radius ao = 0.0529 nm
Bohr magneton 𝜇𝐵 = 9.27 x 10-24J/T
Rest energy of electron mc2 = 0.511 x 106 eV
Universal gas constant R = 8.314 J/mole/K = 0.08207 litre atm/mole/K
Velocity of sound in air 344 m/s
Latent heat of vapourisation of water at atmospheric pressure = 22.6 x 10 5 J Kg-1

1 eV = 1.6022 x 10-19 J
1 u = 931.5 MeV/c2
hc = 1240 eV.nm
kT = 0.02525 eV ~ 1/40 eV, at room temperature (T = 293 K)
Rest energy of electron = mc2 = 0.511 x 106 eV
𝑑𝐸
Number of electrons with energy between E and E + dE: is 𝑓(𝐸)𝑑𝐸 = 𝐸/𝑘𝑇 , where a = 0 for M-B distribution, a = -1 for B-E
𝐴𝑒 +𝑎
distribution and a = 1 for F-D distribution.

∞ 2 1∙3∙5…(2𝑛−1) 𝜋
Definite integral I: ∫0 𝑥 2𝑛 𝑒 −𝑎𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = 2𝑛+1 𝑎𝑛
√𝑎
∞ 1
Definite integral II: ∫0 𝑥 2 𝑒 𝑥−1 𝑑𝑥 = 2.404
∞ 2
Definite integrals III: For 𝑓(𝑛) = ∫0 𝑥 𝑛 𝑒 −𝑎𝑥 𝑑𝑥
n (even) 0 2 4 6
1 𝜋 1 𝜋 3 𝜋 15 𝜋
f(n) √ √ √ √
2 𝑎 4 𝑎3 8 𝑎5 16 𝑎7

n (odd) 1 3 5 7

1 1 1 3
f(n)
2𝑎 2𝑎2 𝑎3 𝑎4

+∞ 2
Also ∫−∞ 𝑥 𝑛 𝑒 −𝑎𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = 2𝑓(𝑛), if n is even,
+∞ 2
and ∫−∞ 𝑥 𝑛 𝑒 −𝑎𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = 0, if n is odd.

Values of cp and cv near room temperature:

Molecule 𝑲𝒂𝒗𝒈 𝑼 = (𝒏𝑵𝑨 )𝑲𝒂𝒗𝒈 𝒄𝒑 (𝐉/𝐦𝐨𝐥 ∙ 𝐊) 𝒄𝑽 (𝐉/𝐦𝐨𝐥 ∙ 𝐊)
Monatomic 3 3 5 3
2
𝑘𝑇 2
𝑛𝑅𝑇 2
𝑅 2
𝑅
5 5 7 5
Diatomic 𝑘𝑇 𝑛𝑅𝑇 𝑅 𝑅
2 2 2 2
Polyatomic 3𝑘𝑇 3𝑛𝑅𝑇 3𝑅

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