# Estimate the mean free path of phonons in Germanium at 300K using the following data

1. Feb 14, 2012

### blueyellow

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

If all the heat transport is by phonons, estimate the mean free path of phonons in Germanium at 300K using the following data. Thermal conductivity=80W/K m; Debye temperature=380K; atomic weight=72.6; sound velocity=4500m/s; density=5500kg m$^{-3}$

2. Relevant equations

K=C$_{V}$v$_{s}$l

l is the mean free path
C$_{V}$ is the heat capacity at constant volume

3. The attempt at a solution

Rearrange the first equation to find l.

C$_{V}$ can be found using some long equation that involves 'N'

But how is N, the number of atoms supposed to be found when the question does not even tell you the mass of the sample, or what the volume of the sample is?

2. Feb 15, 2012

### blueyellow

Re: Estimate the mean free path of phonons in Germanium at 300K using the following d

To calculate the heat capacity, is the Einstein model or the Debye model supposed to be used? The Einstein model, my notes say is only for optical frequencies, so can't be used in this case? But the Debye model just seems too complicated.