B4.23

Statistical Physics
Part II, 2002

A perfect gas in equilibrium in a volume VV has quantum stationary states i|i\rangle with energies EiE_{i}. In a Boltzmann distribution, the probability that the system is in state i|i\rangle is ρi=Z1eEi/kT\rho_{i}=Z^{-1} e^{-E_{i} / k T}. The entropy is defined to be S=kiρilogρiS=-k \sum_{i} \rho_{i} \log \rho_{i}.

For two nearby states establish the equation

dE=TdSPdVd E=T d S-P d V

where EE and PP should be defined.

For reversible changes show that

dS=δQTd S=\frac{\delta Q}{T}

where δQ\delta Q is the amount of heat transferred in the exchange.

Define CVC_{V}, the heat capacity at constant volume.

A system with constant heat capacity CVC_{V} initially at temperature TT is heated at constant volume to a temperature Θ\Theta. Show that the change in entropy is ΔS=\Delta S= CVlog(Θ/T)C_{V} \log (\Theta / T).

Explain what is meant by isothermal and adiabatic transitions.

Briefly, describe the Carnot cycle and define its efficiency. Explain briefly why no heat engine can be more efficient than one whose operation is based on a Carnot cycle.

Three identical bodies with constant heat capacity at fixed volume CVC_{V}, are initially at temperatures T1,T2,T3T_{1}, T_{2}, T_{3}, respectively. Heat engines operate between the bodies with no input of work or heat from the outside and the respective temperatures are changed to Θ1,Θ2,Θ3\Theta_{1}, \Theta_{2}, \Theta_{3}, the volume of the bodies remaining constant. Show that, if the heat engines operate on a Carnot cycle, then

Θ1Θ2Θ3=A,Θ1+Θ2+Θ3=B\Theta_{1} \Theta_{2} \Theta_{3}=A, \quad \Theta_{1}+\Theta_{2}+\Theta_{3}=B

where A=T1T2T3A=T_{1} T_{2} T_{3} and B=T1+T2+T3B=T_{1}+T_{2}+T_{3}.

Hence show that the maximum temperature to which any one of the bodies can be raised is Θ\Theta where

Θ+2(AΘ)1/2=B\Theta+2\left(\frac{A}{\Theta}\right)^{1 / 2}=B

Show that a solution is Θ=T\Theta=T if initially T1=T2=T3=TT_{1}=T_{2}=T_{3}=T. Do you expect there to be any other solutions?

Find Θ\Theta if initially T1=300 K,T2=300 K,T3=100 KT_{1}=300 \mathrm{~K}, T_{2}=300 \mathrm{~K}, T_{3}=100 \mathrm{~K}.

[Hint: Choose to maximize one temperature and impose the constraints above using Lagrange multipliers. ]