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Homework Statement
Determine if the classical approximation (Maxwell-Boltzman statistics) could be employed for the following case: a) Electron gas in a metal at 2.7K (cubic metal lattice of spacing 2Å)
Homework Equations
Maxwell-Boltzman statistics are acceptable to use if the de broglie wavelength, λ << d
Relation - Particle spacing, d, and density, (N/V) = 1/d3
d = (V/N)1/3
Kinetic energy, KE = p2/2m = 3/2KbT
λ = h/p = h/(3mKbT)1/2
The Attempt at a Solution
2Å = 2*10-10m
(N / V) = 1 / (2Å)3
(N / V) = 1 / 8*10-30m
λ << (V/N)1/3
h3/(3mKbT)3/2 << (V/N)
λ = h3/(3mKbT)3/2
h3/(3mKbT)3/2 << (V/N)
(N/V)(h3/(3mKbT)3/2) << 1
(1 / 8*10-30)(h3/(3mKbT)3/2)
(1 / 8*10-30)(6.62*10-34)3) / (3)(9.109*10-31)(1.38*10-23)(2.7)
4.10*10-124 << 1
So the classical approximation could be used. I'm pretty sure my derivation is correct, but I'm not sure if the calculation is.