Integrating a differential (Problem in thermodynamic derivation)

Runei
Messages
193
Reaction score
17
Hi,

I'm looking at a derivation of the thermodynamics of black-body radiation. My question is in regards to the math of the derivation.

Using the first law of thermodynamics and considering an adiabatic expansion of the cavity, it can be stated that

dU = -\frac{u}{3}dV

Here small u is the volumetric density of the internal energy U/V.

Small u can also be described as

u = \int_{0}^{\infty}u_fdf

Here uf is the distribution function for how the internal energy density is distributed amongst the various frequencies (wheew!).

The steps where I'm confused goes like this:

u = \frac{U}{V} = \int_{0}^{\infty}u_fdf \Longleftrightarrow
U = \int_{0}^{\infty}Vu_fdf \Longrightarrow
dU = \int_{0}^{\infty}d(Vu_f)df

My confusion comes from the last step. I can't see how the differential of U is the same as the integral of the differential of Vuf with respect to the frequency f.

Can anybody explain the math behind this? It's quite possible that it's just a small thing I just can't see :D But any help is most appreciated :)

Thank you.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Well I figured it out now, and as I thought, it was quite simple.

Since

U = \int_{0}^{\infty}Vu_fdf = \int_{0}^{\infty}Fdx

F is now just equal to Vuf. I just made a change of variable names to make it more simple.

dU = Fdx

dF = fdx

\int_{0}^{\infty}dFdx = \int_{0}^{\infty}f dx dx = F dx = dU

This corresponds to the problem I was asking.
 
Back
Top