Relation between Heat Capacity and Polarizability?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the potential relationship between heat capacity and polarizability in materials, particularly focusing on how electric fields influence dipole formation and temperature changes in non-polar compounds. The scope includes theoretical considerations and exploratory reasoning regarding the behavior of materials under electric fields.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that in non-polar compounds, the application of an electric field leads to the emergence of dipoles, which may cause temperature increases due to non-uniform electric fields and interactions between neighboring dipoles.
  • It is proposed that the polarizability of substances, which decreases with increasing temperature, could indicate a relationship with heat capacity, acting as a "storage tank" for temperature.
  • Another participant references Landau and Lif****'s work, indicating that there may be established discussions on this topic in their literature.
  • A later reply mentions finding a slight relationship between heat capacity and polarizability for certain materials, although it is noted that this relationship may not be practically useful.
  • One participant encourages further exploration to derive a relationship for energy that could lead to insights about heat capacity.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying degrees of uncertainty regarding the practical implications of the relationship between heat capacity and polarizability, with some acknowledging a slight relationship while others suggest further investigation is needed. No consensus is reached on the significance or applicability of these ideas.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the dependence on specific material properties and the potential variability of results across different substances, particularly in the context of plasmas.

Jonny_trigonometry
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My thinking is, when a fairly non-periodic, non-polar compound is subjected to an electric field, dipoles emerge, and although they're all in the same direction, since the arangement of atoms in the substance isn't that regular, then the electric field inside will be non-uniform (on the microscopic scale). If there are small changes in the electirc field due to neighboring dipoles, then the dipoles will feel forces, thus causing more net movement and temperature. Seemingly, in this case the applied electric field might raise the temperature. But the amount of temerature increase must be dependent on the polarizability. The polarizability of substances decreases as temperature increases, so there must be an equilibrium point. So this tells me that the polarizability is like an extra "storage tank" of temerature of the substance, hinting towards a relation with heat capacity.

well?
 
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If memory serves me correctly, Landau and Lif**** deal with this in one of their series, try either the electrodynamics of continuous matter or the statistical physics vol 1.
 
thanks. I found that there is a slight relationship for certain materials, but it's nothing really that practical to use. I wonder what it's like for plasmas...
 
Figure it out, you should be able to find a relationship for the energy etc...from there you can find the heat capacity.
 

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