Chemical Potential and Atmospheric Molecule Distribution at Constant Temperature

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on deriving the total number of molecules in the atmosphere at constant temperature, as presented in Kittel's "Thermal Physics." The formula for the total number of molecules, N, is established as N=4πn(R)exp(-MgR/τ)∫_{R}^{∞}drr²exp(MgR²/(rτ)), where τ represents temperature divided by Boltzmann's constant. The participants emphasize the need for integration to account for the varying density of molecules with distance from the Earth's surface, rather than simply multiplying concentration by volume. The challenge lies in calculating the volume V accurately to support the derivation.

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  • Understanding of chemical potential and its applications in thermodynamics
  • Familiarity with Kittel's "Thermal Physics" concepts
  • Knowledge of integration techniques in calculus
  • Basic principles of atmospheric physics and molecular distribution
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  • Explore advanced integration techniques for evaluating volume in three-dimensional spaces
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The question is from kittel's book, thermal physics:

If n concentaration of moleclues at the surface of earth, M the mass of a molecule and g and gravitational acceleration at the surface, show that at constant temprature the total number of molecules in the atmosphere is [tex]N=4\pi n(R)exp(-MgR/\tau)\int_{R}^{\infty}drr^2exp(MgR^2/(r\tau)[/tex] where tau is the tempratue divided by Boltzmann's constant, and r is measured from the centre of the Earth and R is the radius of the earth.

my attempt at solution:
Now obviously this is a question of chemical potenital, i.e
[tex]\tau log(n(R)/n_Q)=\tau log(n(r)/n_Q)+Mg(r-R)[/tex]
where [tex]n_Q=(M\tau /2\pi\hbar^2)^\frac{3}{2}[/tex] and N/V=n where V is the volume of the concentration, now i get that:
[tex]N=V*n(R)*exp(-Mg(r-R)/\tau)[/tex]
but I'm not sure how to calculate V the volume here, any suggestions?
obviously if i solve this then i will show the identity but how?

thanks in advance.
 
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First of all, remember that the density will vary with distance from the Earth's surface. This means you can't just multiply by a volume to get particle number; you'll have to integrate it.
 
how exactly?
I mean:
n(r)/V=n(R)*exp(-Mg(r-R)/(k_B*T)

how to procceed from here?
I mean N=integral(n(r)/V)dV
where dV=r^2sin(theta)drd(theta)d(phi).
how to evalute V i mean i can see ad hoc what it needs to be from what i need to show, but it doesn't make much sense to me at least, i mean from what i see V should be an exponenetial without any factor attach to it in order to make its units of volume.
 

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