- #1
Kara386
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Homework Statement
I need to integrate
##\langle |v_x| \rangle = \int^{\infty}_0 |v_x| \sqrt{\frac{m}{2\pi kT}}e^{-mv_x^2/2kT}dv##
For context this is a Maxwell Boltzmann distribution in one dimension, and I've actually been asked to calculate ##\langle v_x \rangle## which is given by ##|v_x|f(v)## where ##f(v) = \sqrt{\frac{m}{2\pi kT}}e^{-mv_x^2/2kT}## is the Maxwell Boltzmann distribution in the x-direction. Not sure if the question is best put in physics or maths.
Homework Equations
The Attempt at a Solution
I'm a little confused because since ##v_x## is always positive between infinity and zero (I think?) the integral is actually just ##\langle v_x \rangle##, since the mod can be ignored if it's always positive. That can't be it though, I've already been asked to calculate ##\langle v_x \rangle## in the first part of the same question. So I suppose my treatment of the mod must be wrong.
Thanks for any help!
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