Boltzmann distribution law

November 10th, 2016

Let’s consider a gas that is in the gravity field (fig.1).

my_site_boltzmann_distribution_1

Fig. 1. Ideal gas in the gravity field.

Let’s write that pressure has gas  at altitudes z (1) and z-dz (2):

p=\rho g z      (1)

p+dp = \rho g (z-dz)      (2)

Let’s find dp from the equations (1) and (2):

dp=\rho g (z-dz) - \rho g z =-\rho g dz (3)

Let’s substitute to equation (3) the expression for \rho obtained from the ideal gas law \rho=\frac{p \mu}{RT}:

dp=-\frac{p \mu}{RT}gdz (4)

Let’s perform the separation of variables:

\frac{dp}{p}=-\frac{\mu g}{RT}dz (5)

Let’s  integrate equation (5):

\int \frac{dp}{p}=-\frac{\mu g}{RT}\int dz (6)

We receive from equation (6):

lnp=-\frac{\mu g z}{RT}+const (7)

Let’s represent a constant in the form lnp_0, then we obtain the barometric formula:

p=p_0 exp (-\frac{\mu g z }{RT}) (8)

Given that p=nkT and p_0=n_kT we obtaine the Boltzmann distribution:

n=n_0 exp (-\frac{\mu g z }{RT})  (9)

(The information has been taken from the e-book «Fundamentals of classical physics” (author V.D. Shvets), which was published in 2007 by “1C-Multimedia Ukraine” publishing company. Copyright is reserved by certificate Number 55955 from 06.08.2014. More information can be found at https://ipood-kiev.academia.edu/ValentynaShvets/Books)

TASKS

Task 1. The barometer in the cabin of the helicopter, flying at the height of h, shows the pressure p =90 kPa. At what height the helicopter is flying if the barometer showed a pressure of 100 kPa at the runway? Consider that the air temperature T is equal to 290 K and does not change with height.

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Task 2. The rotor of a centrifuge is rotating with angular velocity \omega. Using the Boltzmann distribution function, set the distribution of concentration of particles as a function of a distance from the axis of rotation.

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Task 3. The mass of each of the dust particles suspended in the air equals m. Find the Avogadro number, if the relation of concentrations of the dust at its height h, on the surface of the Earth, and the air temperature T are known.

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Task 4. Find the height h, corresponding to the change of pressure \Delta p, if you know the pressure at the surface of the Earth p_0 and air temperature T.

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Task 5. At what height air density is 53.2% of the density at sea level? The temperature should be considered constant and equal to 27^0C.




(The tasks have been taken from the book «Elements of Statistical Physics” (author V.D. Shvets), which was published in 2002 by “The University Ukraine” publishing house. This book has Recommendation of Ministry Education of Ukraine № 44 from 14.01.1999. More information can be found at https://ipood-kiev.academia.edu/ValentynaShvets/Books)

   

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