Equiparition theorem, kinetic energy, temperatur

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The discussion revolves around the equipartition theorem and its implications for calculating temperature in a system of particles. It highlights the derivation of temperature using the relationship between kinetic energy and degrees of freedom, specifically noting the equation <∑_k^{3N-d} p_k ∂H/∂p_k> = (3N-d) k_b T. The confusion arises regarding the upper bound of the sum, where the author questions how the common result <∑_k^{N} (p_k^2/2m)> relates to the kinetic energy expression involving momentum vectors. The author seeks clarification on the transition from a sum over components to a sum over vectors, particularly in the context of constraints in the thermodynamic limit. The discussion emphasizes the need for a clearer understanding of these relationships in statistical mechanics.
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Hi,

according to the equipartition theorem

&lt;p_k \frac{\partial H}{\partial p_k}&gt; =k_bT (where H depends on f generalized coodinates p and q and f is the number of degrees of freedom)

the temperature for a system of particles should be given by the result of the following derivation

&lt;\sum_k^f p_k \frac{\partial H}{\partial p_k}&gt; =\sum_k^f k_bT
<=>
&lt;\sum_k^f p_k \frac{\partial H}{\partial p_k}&gt; = f k_b T

now using f=3N-d where N is the number of particles and d the number of 'constraints', one gets:
&lt;\sum_k^{3N-d} p_k \frac{\partial H}{\partial p_k}&gt; = (3N-d) k_b T

using \frac{\partial H}{\partial p_k}=2\frac{p_k}{2m} one gets:
&lt;\sum_k^{3N-d} \frac{p_k^2}{2 m}&gt; = \frac{3N-d}{2} k_b T

however, the common result is:
&lt;\sum_k^{N} \frac{\vec p_k^2}{2 m}&gt; = \frac{3N-d}{2} k_b T (note, that p_k is a vector)

That is, what people seem to do is, they don't write the kinetic energy on the left hand side as a sum of the components p_k, but as a sum over the momentum vectors:
&lt;\sum_k^{N} \frac{\vec p_k^2}{2 m}&gt;

I don't see, how they manage the upper bound 3N-d of the sum. If the upper bound was only 3N, then the last equation for the kinetic energy would be obvious to me. That is, I would understand the following
&lt;\sum_k^{3N} \frac{p_k^2}{2 m}&gt; = &lt;\sum_k^{N} \frac{\vec p_k^2}{2 m}&gt;
where the sum on the left hand side is going over the momentum components of all particles and the sum on the right hand side is going over the momentum-vectors of all particles.

but I don' t see, how people manage to get
&lt;\sum_k^{3N-d} \frac{p_k^2}{2 m}&gt; = &lt;\sum_k^{N} \frac{\vec p_k^2}{2 m}&gt;for an example, please see page 11 of http://www.physics.buffalo.edu/phy411-506/topic3/lec-3-1.pdf (where d=3)
 
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Because, in the thermodynamic limit, N is of order 1023 and d is only 3.
 
i see, only an approximation...

thank you.
 
I have recently been really interested in the derivation of Hamiltons Principle. On my research I found that with the term ##m \cdot \frac{d}{dt} (\frac{dr}{dt} \cdot \delta r) = 0## (1) one may derivate ##\delta \int (T - V) dt = 0## (2). The derivation itself I understood quiet good, but what I don't understand is where the equation (1) came from, because in my research it was just given and not derived from anywhere. Does anybody know where (1) comes from or why from it the...

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