Statistical mechanics average energy

sarahger9
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Homework Statement



average energy per particle u = (Eo + E1 e^(-B deltaE)) / (1 + e^(-B deltaE))
B = 1/T


Homework Equations



Possibly relevant: e^x = 1 + x^2 / 2! + x^3 / 3! ...

The Attempt at a Solution



It tells me the average energy is about u = Eo + (deltaE)e^(-B delatE) as t approaches 0, and u = (1/2)(Eo + E1) - (1/4)B(delataE)^2 as T approaches infinity.

I can easily derive the first term in both of these equations, but the second is giving me some trouble. I tried to Taylor expand the exponential, but everything seems to cancel out and appear as before.
 
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sarahger9 said:

Homework Statement



average energy per particle u = (Eo + E1 e^(-B deltaE)) / (1 + e^(-B deltaE))
B = 1/T


Homework Equations



Possibly relevant: e^x = 1 + x^2 / 2! + x^3 / 3! ...

The Attempt at a Solution



It tells me the average energy is about u = Eo + (deltaE)e^(-B delatE) as t approaches 0, and u = (1/2)(Eo + E1) - (1/4)B(delataE)^2 as T approaches infinity.

I can easily derive the first term in both of these equations, but the second is giving me some trouble. I tried to Taylor expand the exponential, but everything seems to cancel out and appear as before.


What is the question?
 
Sorry, I am attempting to derive the solution that was given to me, the energy as T approaches 0 and infinity from the average energy per particle
 
sarahger9 said:
Sorry, I am attempting to derive the solution that was given to me, the energy as T approaches 0 and infinity from the average energy per particle

You might want to try the T-> infinity first. I got their answer. Just Taylor expand. And you will also need to use that

\frac{1}{1+x} \approx 1-x

If you don't get it, post your steps
 
To solve this, I first used the units to work out that a= m* a/m, i.e. t=z/λ. This would allow you to determine the time duration within an interval section by section and then add this to the previous ones to obtain the age of the respective layer. However, this would require a constant thickness per year for each interval. However, since this is most likely not the case, my next consideration was that the age must be the integral of a 1/λ(z) function, which I cannot model.
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