Partition Function: Which Energy Relationship?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the relationships for energy in statistical mechanics, specifically focusing on the partition function and its derivatives with respect to temperature and beta. Participants express confusion over two different energy equations encountered in various sources.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are examining the validity of two energy equations related to the partition function. There is a discussion about the use of the chain rule to relate the two forms of the equations. Some participants question the correctness of the equations presented in external resources.

Discussion Status

The conversation includes attempts to clarify the relationship between the two energy equations, with some participants asserting the correctness of one form over the other. There is an acknowledgment of differing interpretations, and while some guidance has been offered regarding the chain rule, no consensus has been reached.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference external sources, including a specific MIT website, which may contribute to the confusion regarding the equations. The discussion highlights the importance of verifying equations in different contexts.

touqra
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Is the energy given by the first or the second? I have seen both relationships in different websites, and I am confused.

[tex]E = kT^2 \frac{\partial Z}{\partial T}[/tex]

or

[tex]E = - \frac{\partial ln Z}{\partial \beta}[/tex]
 
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The first one should be

[tex]E = kT^2 \frac{\partial \ln Z}{\partial T}[/tex]

You can go from one to the other by the chain rule since [tex]\beta=\frac{1}{k\,T}[/tex]
 
Rainbow Child said:
The first one should be

[tex]E = kT^2 \frac{\partial \ln Z}{\partial T}[/tex]

You can go from one to the other by the chain rule since [tex]\beta=\frac{1}{k\,T}[/tex]

I did realize you can go from one to the other before I post this up. But the MIT website solution happily used the same equation (1) twice. For example, page 6 of http://web.mit.edu/Physics/graduate/gen1sol_S01.pdf
 
Last edited by a moderator:
It's simply wrong! :smile:
 
Yes, Rainbow Child is right.
 

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