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Physics 416: WarmUp Exercises

...More about the Canonical Ensemble

This assignment is due before 10 AM, Wednesday, March 22nd, 2000.

Please type LAST name:

Please type your LAST NAME and LAST FOUR SS# digits (eg: Smith3256):

I received no help from anyone on this assignment.

The following questions refer to the material you were to read in preparation to the lesson. Each question requires you to write a paragraph or two in response.

You may change your mind as often as you wish. When you are satisfied with your responses, click the "Submit WarmUp" button at the bottom of this page.




1.


In your own words, please describe what a partition function is. How would the number of terms in Z vary with the number of degrees of freedom? Would many terms be equal?




2.

Consider two spin 1/2 atoms, each with a magnetic moment of one Bohr magneton (9.27 x 10-24 ampere-m2) in a 2 T magnetic field. In addition to the interactions with the field, there is an extra energy + when the spins are parallel and - when they are antiparallel. What are the possible states of this two-spin system? Estimate the probability of finding the spins antiparallel for =4 x 10-23J and room temperature.

Hint: 1 ampere-m2 x 1 T = 1 J. To prove this, figure out what a Tesla really is by recalling that the units of 0 are N-s2/C2.





Below is a space for your thoughts, including general comments about today's assignment. What was hard or confusing (or cool)? What would you like to spend extra time on in class? Do you see how this subject fits in with the others we have discussed?




You may change your mind as often as you wish. When you are satisfied with your responses click the SUBMIT button.

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