Homework Help: Deriving entropy change equation from Boltzmann's principle

1. Mar 3, 2014

tombrown9g2

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

Show using Boltzmann's principle (S=k.lnW), show that with respect to changes in V and T:

$dS=k.N.\frac{dV}V{}+\frac{C.dT}V{T}$

Where $W=T^{\frac{C}k{}}V^{N}$

3. The attempt at a solution

$S=k.lnT^{\frac{C}k{}}V^{N}=k.lnT^{\frac{C}k{}}+klnV^{N}$

$S=C.lnT+N.lnV$

Now I know that the differential of lnV is 1/V and lnT is 1/T but I'm unsure on how to do the final step required to get to the equation. My maths is a bit rusty, I've tried taking partial derivatives but couldn't get to the right answer.

Last edited: Mar 3, 2014
2. Mar 3, 2014

BvU

$S=C.lnT+k\ N.lnV$ (Don't forget the k). so the first term you have already if you fill in $d(\ln V) = {dV\over V}$. The other term looks a bit strange: C has the same dimension as k and S, so the rest of that term should be dimensionless like N ln(V), not have a dimension of K2/m3 ??

3. Mar 4, 2014

tombrown9g2

Ahh yes forgot the k. Probably should of mentioned C is the constant volume heat capacity, k Boltzmann's constant and N the number of particles of ideal gas. Not really looked at the units of the terms but surely if you differentiate then you have to differentiate by something? i.e. to get to $d(\ln V) = {dV\over V}$ surely you've got to differentiate by something first?

4. Mar 4, 2014

BvU

Differentials are limits of small differences. I am speaking physics here. If you want the math side, it all becomes a lot more verbose. For daily use d(f(x)) = f'(x) dx is a way of avoiding to continuously have to state that it really is a limit:$$f' (x) \equiv \lim_{h \downarrow 0} {f(x+h) - f(x) \over h }\ \Rightarrow \ \lim_{\Delta x \downarrow 0} f(x+\Delta x) - f(x) = f'(x)\ \lim_{\Delta x \downarrow 0} \Delta x \ \Rightarrow \ d\left ( f(x) \right ) = f'(x) \ dx$$ So: no, differentiating to something first is not the idea. If you want to differentiate to something (not x, but, say, $\alpha$), you simply write ${d(ln(V))\over d\alpha}= {1\over V} {dV\over d\alpha}$, a haphazard way to use the chain rule.

But you can only add or subract things with the same dimension, and you can only take logarithms of numbers, not of e.g. volumes.

5. Mar 5, 2014

tombrown9g2

Ahh thanks, I see now! So maybe another approach is more appropiate, any ideas? Because I really don't have any.

6. Mar 5, 2014

7. Mar 5, 2014

BvU

Yes, you are right. I have to do some reading up to find out. Originally Boltzmann's W ($\Omega$) was a number, so dimensionless, and you could take the logarithm. But the given W somehow got a complicated dimension.

Anyway, the k N dV/V term can be seen to appear, and it has the dimension of k. But now what about the d/dT term ? C dT/T is not what the original wording of the exercise wants us to find, right ? C has the right dimension (same as k), dT/T is dimensionless, so that would be OK.

But C dT/V times T does not have the right dimension. I don't think I can help in forcing this to have the dimension of k, so I'm stuck here....

In the mean time I find dS/dT = C/T in several places, so I am inclined to think this C dT/V times T isn't right.