Is E=3/2 Kb T or E=Kb T?

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The discussion centers on the equations E=3/2 kBT and E=kBT, where kB is the Boltzmann constant. The first equation applies to systems with three degrees of freedom, such as monatomic ideal gases, while the second applies to systems with two degrees of freedom, like a 2D monatomic ideal gas or harmonic oscillators. The equipartition theorem indicates that each quadratic degree of freedom contributes kBT/2 to the average energy. The confusion arises from the relationship between kinetic energy and quantum mechanics, particularly in the context of wavelength and frequency.

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Energy and frequency E=hv

I have a simple question that is that is E=3/2x Kb x T, where kb is Boltzmann constant.
I understand that this is involve 3 degree of freedom, but as i was reading through the forum, i come across 1 equation stating E=kb x T. So is it true? and what application would this apply to?

And with regards to quantum physics, since kinetic energy= 1/2MV2, and =3/2kbT,
yet, λ=h/p=h/mv, where h is Planck constand and p is momentum, and λ is wavelength.

Since λ=V/F, where v is velocity and F is frequency,
then this would mean that V/F=h/mv, and I would get hxF=mV2,
and since E=hxv, where E is energy, h is Planck constant, and v is velocity,
would that mean that E=mV2 which I don't understand as I thought E was suppose to be 1/2mv2, yet now the 1/2 has disappear.

Thanks a lot for the help, a bit confused with all the energy, frequency and wavelength.
 
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dinky said:
I have a simple question that is that is E=3/2x Kb x T, where kb is Boltzmann constant.
I understand that this is involve 3 degree of freedom, but as i was reading through the forum, i come across 1 equation stating E=kb x T. So is it true? and what application would this apply to?
The equipartition tells us that
$$
\langle E \rangle = \frac{f}{2} k_\mathrm{B} T
$$
i.e., each quadratic degree of freedom contributes ##k_\mathrm{B} T/2## to the average energy.

For kinetic energy only, since ##E \propto p_x^2 +p_y^2 + p_z^2##, there are ##f=3## quadratic degrees of freedom, from which we get the first equation in the OP.

The second equation is of course obtained for ##f=2##, which would be the case for, e.g., a 2D monatomic ideal gas or a harmonic oscillator (since ##E## is then obtained from the sum of a term in ##p^2## and a term in ##x^2##). The vibration of diatomic molecules is most often modeled as a harmonic oscillator.

dinky said:
And with regards to quantum physics, since kinetic energy= 1/2MV2, and =3/2kbT,
yet, λ=h/p=h/mv, where h is Planck constand and p is momentum, and λ is wavelength.

Since λ=V/F, where v is velocity and F is frequency,
The latter ##\lambda## is the wavelength of a classical wave propagating at a velocity ##v##, and shouldn't be confused with the former ##\lambda##, which is the de Broglie wavelength.
 
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