Skip to main content
added 55 characters in body
Source Link
Wrzlprmft
  • 6.4k
  • 2
  • 27
  • 47

In general it is difficult to quantify the absolute values of diverse thermodynamical potentials of matter due to their complicated structure, however, for simple-structured matter it is possible. The best example for this is the classical (not quantum!) ideal gas where the internal energy $U$ and enthalpy $H$ are given by

$$ U = c_V N k_B T \quad \text{and} \quad H = c_p N k_B T$$$$ U = c_V N k_\text{B} T \quad \text{and} \quad H = c_p N k_\text{B} T$$

where $c_V$ and $c_p$ are the dimensionless specific heat capacity at constant volume respectively at constant pressure (BTW: $c_p = c_V + 1$ for an ideal gas). Furthermore $N$ is the number of particles $k_B$$k_\text{B}$ the Boltzmann constant. The formula for the total entropy is a bit more complicated and only for an one-atomic ideal gas:

$$ S = Nk_B [ \ln (\frac{V}{N\lambda^3}) + \frac{5}{2}] $$$$ S = Nk_\text{B} \left( \ln \left(\frac{V}{N\lambda^3}\right) + \frac{5}{2} \right) $$

where $\lambda = \frac{h}{\sqrt{2\pi m k_B T}}$$\lambda = \frac{h}{\sqrt{2\pi m k_\text{B} T}}$. (Here, we indeed comesget a quantum-mechanical constant in. This related withto the statistical meaning of entropy being proportional with the logarithm of the number of micro-states possible for a single macroscopic state. UponThrough counting the micro-states, quantum mechanics comes in).
The)

The question on the uncertainty of thermodynamicalthermodynamic potentials is not related with Heisenberg'sHeisenberg’s uncertainty principle. It is related with thermodynamicalthermodynamic fluctuations. As any kind of matter, an ideal gas is in permanent energy exchange with the outer world. So the formulas given above are actually mean values as the actual values fluctuate. However, due to the large number of particles contained in a macroscopic amount of matter, the relative values of these fluctuations with respect to the corresponding total macroscopic values are very small. So if a limited number of gas particles (for instance those close to the wall of the container of the ideal gas) exchange their energy with the outer world -- positive– positive or negative -- – does not substantially change the total amount of internal energy, so the mean value (taken over a time scale typical for macroscopic physics) remains constant. Last

Last note: All given formulas are to be understood for equilibrium thermodynamicalthermodynamic states.

In general it is difficult to quantify the absolute values of diverse thermodynamical potentials of matter due to their complicated structure, however, for simple-structured matter it is possible. The best example for this is the classical (not quantum!) ideal gas where the internal energy $U$ and enthalpy $H$ are given by

$$ U = c_V N k_B T \quad \text{and} \quad H = c_p N k_B T$$

where $c_V$ and $c_p$ are the dimensionless specific heat capacity at constant volume respectively at constant pressure (BTW $c_p = c_V + 1$ for an ideal gas). Furthermore $N$ is the number of particles $k_B$ the Boltzmann constant. The formula for the total entropy is a bit more complicated and only for an one-atomic ideal gas:

$$ S = Nk_B [ \ln (\frac{V}{N\lambda^3}) + \frac{5}{2}] $$

where $\lambda = \frac{h}{\sqrt{2\pi m k_B T}}$ (Here indeed comes a quantum-mechanical constant in. This related with the statistical meaning of entropy being proportional with the logarithm of the number of micro-states possible for a single macroscopic state. Upon counting the micro-states quantum mechanics comes in).
The question on the uncertainty of thermodynamical potentials is not related with Heisenberg's uncertainty principle. It is related with thermodynamical fluctuations. As any kind of matter an ideal gas is in permanent energy exchange with the outer world. So the formulas given above are actually mean values as the actual values fluctuate. However, due to the large number of particles contained in a macroscopic amount of matter, the relative values of these fluctuations with respect to the corresponding total macroscopic values are very small. So if a limited number of gas particles (for instance those close to the wall of the container of the ideal gas) exchange their energy with the outer world -- positive or negative -- does not substantially change the total amount of internal energy, so the mean value (taken over a time scale typical for macroscopic physics) remains constant. Last note: All given formulas are to be understood for equilibrium thermodynamical states.

In general it is difficult to quantify the absolute values of diverse thermodynamical potentials of matter due to their complicated structure, however, for simple-structured matter it is possible. The best example for this is the classical (not quantum!) ideal gas where the internal energy $U$ and enthalpy $H$ are given by

$$ U = c_V N k_\text{B} T \quad \text{and} \quad H = c_p N k_\text{B} T$$

where $c_V$ and $c_p$ are the dimensionless specific heat capacity at constant volume respectively at constant pressure (BTW: $c_p = c_V + 1$ for an ideal gas). Furthermore $N$ is the number of particles $k_\text{B}$ the Boltzmann constant. The formula for the total entropy is a bit more complicated and only for an one-atomic ideal gas:

$$ S = Nk_\text{B} \left( \ln \left(\frac{V}{N\lambda^3}\right) + \frac{5}{2} \right) $$

where $\lambda = \frac{h}{\sqrt{2\pi m k_\text{B} T}}$. (Here, we indeed get a quantum-mechanical constant. This related to the statistical meaning of entropy being proportional with the logarithm of the number of micro-states possible for a single macroscopic state. Through counting the micro-states, quantum mechanics comes in.)

The question on the uncertainty of thermodynamic potentials is not related with Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle. It is related with thermodynamic fluctuations. As any kind of matter, an ideal gas is in permanent energy exchange with the outer world. So the formulas given above are actually mean values as the actual values fluctuate. However, due to the large number of particles contained in a macroscopic amount of matter, the relative values of these fluctuations with respect to the corresponding total macroscopic values are very small. So if a limited number of gas particles (for instance those close to the wall of the container of the ideal gas) exchange their energy with the outer world – positive or negative – does not substantially change the total amount of internal energy, so the mean value (taken over a time scale typical for macroscopic physics) remains constant.

Last note: All given formulas are to be understood for equilibrium thermodynamic states.

Source Link
Frederic Thomas
  • 10.1k
  • 3
  • 25
  • 54

In general it is difficult to quantify the absolute values of diverse thermodynamical potentials of matter due to their complicated structure, however, for simple-structured matter it is possible. The best example for this is the classical (not quantum!) ideal gas where the internal energy $U$ and enthalpy $H$ are given by

$$ U = c_V N k_B T \quad \text{and} \quad H = c_p N k_B T$$

where $c_V$ and $c_p$ are the dimensionless specific heat capacity at constant volume respectively at constant pressure (BTW $c_p = c_V + 1$ for an ideal gas). Furthermore $N$ is the number of particles $k_B$ the Boltzmann constant. The formula for the total entropy is a bit more complicated and only for an one-atomic ideal gas:

$$ S = Nk_B [ \ln (\frac{V}{N\lambda^3}) + \frac{5}{2}] $$

where $\lambda = \frac{h}{\sqrt{2\pi m k_B T}}$ (Here indeed comes a quantum-mechanical constant in. This related with the statistical meaning of entropy being proportional with the logarithm of the number of micro-states possible for a single macroscopic state. Upon counting the micro-states quantum mechanics comes in).
The question on the uncertainty of thermodynamical potentials is not related with Heisenberg's uncertainty principle. It is related with thermodynamical fluctuations. As any kind of matter an ideal gas is in permanent energy exchange with the outer world. So the formulas given above are actually mean values as the actual values fluctuate. However, due to the large number of particles contained in a macroscopic amount of matter, the relative values of these fluctuations with respect to the corresponding total macroscopic values are very small. So if a limited number of gas particles (for instance those close to the wall of the container of the ideal gas) exchange their energy with the outer world -- positive or negative -- does not substantially change the total amount of internal energy, so the mean value (taken over a time scale typical for macroscopic physics) remains constant. Last note: All given formulas are to be understood for equilibrium thermodynamical states.