High frequency states get less energy WHY?

In summary, the conversation discusses the discrepancy between the predicted energy of higher frequency states in the quantum ideal gas according to the equipartition theorem and the actual energy they receive. The argument for low frequency states is that they all receive the same energy, but this is not the case for high frequency states. The poster apologizes for accidentally posting multiple times and asks for clarification on the question.
  • #1
JamesJames
205
0
Why is it that higher frequency states in the quantum ideal gas get less energy than what is predicted by the equipartition theorem?

I understand the argument about low frequency states. They do get the same energy..all of them. But high frequency states do not have the same agreement!

Can someone please explain this to me?

James
 
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  • #2
JamesJames said:
Why is it that higher frequency states in the quantum ideal gas get less energy than what is predicted by the equipartition theorem?

I understand the argument about low frequency states. They do get the same energy..all of them. But high frequency states do not have the same agreement!

Can someone please explain this to me?

James

It isn't nice to spam-post the identical thing to several sections. We all read them, so pick one, and stick with one.

Zz.
 
  • #3
I' m sorry..when I clicked post the computer shut down so I did not know if it had posted and did not have time to check so I posted again thinking it did not get posted. I' m really sorry for the confusion. I was not meaning to overflow the forums.

Any ideas about the question?

James
 

FAQ: High frequency states get less energy WHY?

Why do high frequency states get less energy?

In quantum mechanics, energy levels in a system are quantized, meaning they can only take on certain discrete values. As the frequency of a state increases, the energy level associated with that state also increases. However, as the frequency becomes very high, the energy levels become closely spaced and the system cannot accommodate all possible states. Therefore, some states have to share energy, resulting in the high frequency states having less energy than lower frequency states.

How does this relate to the uncertainty principle?

The uncertainty principle states that the more precisely we know the position of a particle, the less precisely we can know its momentum. In the case of high frequency states, the energy levels are closely spaced, making it difficult to determine the exact energy of a particle. This increases the uncertainty in the energy, which is related to the momentum, thus fulfilling the uncertainty principle.

Does temperature play a role in this phenomenon?

Yes, temperature does play a role in this phenomenon. At higher temperatures, particles have more kinetic energy and are more likely to occupy higher energy states. This means that the high frequency states are more likely to be occupied, resulting in a decrease in the energy of these states.

Can this phenomenon be observed in macroscopic systems?

Yes, this phenomenon can be observed in macroscopic systems. For example, in a solid material, the atoms are vibrating at different frequencies. As the temperature increases, more and more high frequency states become occupied, resulting in a decrease in the energy of these states and an overall increase in the system's energy.

How does this concept apply to other areas of science?

The concept of high frequency states getting less energy is not limited to quantum mechanics. It can also be observed in other areas of science, such as thermodynamics and signal processing. In thermodynamics, the energy levels of molecules are closely spaced, resulting in high frequency modes having less energy. In signal processing, high frequency signals are often attenuated or filtered out due to their higher energy requirements.

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