- #1
quietrain
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Homework Statement
QN1. A system consists of N weakly interacting subsystems. Each subsystem possesses only two energy levels E1and E2, each of them non-degenerate. Obtain an exact expression for the heat capacity of the system.
QN2. A system possesses three energy levels E1 =E , E2 = 2E and E3 = 3E, with degeneracies g (E1 ) = g(E3) = 1, g(E2) = 2. Find the heat capacity of the system.
The Attempt at a Solution
when solving the partition function Z for these questions , why is it that for the first question, i can let E1 to be = 0 and hence E2 = E
but for the 2nd question, i can't let E1 = 0 even though the ans says i can? is the ans a mistake?
since:
qn1: Z = e-BE1+e-BE2 = 1+e-BE
so my question is, why for question 2, Z must be like the following
Z= e-BE+2e-2BE+e-3BE
and why i cannot let E1=0 which gives
Z= 1+2e-BE+e-2BE
thanks!