Week 2
    Week 3
    Week 4
    Week 5
    Week 6
    Week 7
    Week 8
    Week 9
    Week 10

   The second week begins with relativistic dynamics moving to statistical mechanics.  The first step in statistical mechanics is understanding the workings of an ideal gas.   Ideal gas approximations are valid for low densities where the intermolecular forces can be ignored.   Read through the chapter on statistical mechanics before working through these applets.

    For a gas that can assumed to be ideal the equation of state is the commonly known PV=nRT.   This equation relates the three state variables P-pressure, V-volume, and T-temperature in a linear form.   This means that any linear increase in the pressure will require either a linear decrease in volume or increase in particle number or temperature.   To explore this linear relationship view this applet and answer the associated questions.  

        1.  In a linear relationship like that of an  ideal gas, change of the number of particles by a factor of 2 would result in a change of the volume by how much? (assuming all other variable to be constant)   Does this applet show this.  

        2.  What happens when you increase or decrease the pressure by a factor of four?

        3.  In this applet the particles velocity represents which state variable?  Is the relationship between the velocity and that state variable linear? (in the text) 

    One of the key components of any statistical model is a large sample.   Statistical mechanics is no exception.   For an ideal gas the particles velocity follows a Maxwell statistical distribution.  View this applet and answer the questions regarding it.

        1.  Set the particle number to 4 and describe the distribution of velocities.   Does it follow the Maxwell distribution, denoted by the blue line?  Can you really tell? 

        2.  Now increase the particle number to 81 and describe how well the velocity distribution follows that of Maxwell. 

    In this applet you can see the velocity differences between heavier molecules and those that are lighter. 

        1. What is the difference between the velocity distribution of the lighter He molecule compare to the heavier Ne?  Do they follow the same general form?

Degrees of Freedom

    Part of understanding an objects heat capacity is visualizing what a degree of freedom is.   View this simple applet and answer the question associated with it.

       1.  The line has three degrees of freedom.  Describe all three of these degree of freedom.  

Extras

    Here are some extra applets that you can explore free of questions.   

      Special Processes of an Ideal gas. 

      Brownian Motion

      Thermodynamic equilibrium

      Miscellaneous Thermo applets