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| An Introduction to Statistical Mechanics© |
Michelle M. Francl
Department of Chemistry
Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
United States
mail to: mfrancl@brynmawr.edu
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| Abstract |
This Mathematica notebook introduces physical chemistry students to the partition function for vibrational and rotational energy. Students start with a review of Sterling's approximation and proceed to examine the harmonic oscillator partition function. They extend their understanding by using their own experimental data or a supplied spectrum to study the fine structure of HCl/DCl or some other diatomic gas. The notebook guides students in their understanding of the effect of temperature on the partition function and the changes in the partition function for different molecules.
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| Commentary |
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Keywords |
| Audiences: |
Upper-Division Undergraduate |
| Pedagogies: |
Computer-Based Learning |
| Domains: |
Physical Chemistry |
| Topics: |
Thermodynamics, Quantum Chemistry, Statistical Mechanics, Mathematics / Symbolic Mathematics |
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Documents |
| File Name | Description | Software Type | Software Version |
IntroStatMech.nb  |
Mathematica Computational Document |
Mathematica |
5.0 |
| IntroStatMech.pdf |
Read-Only Document |
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| JCE Subscribers only: name and password or institutional IP number access required. |
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| Citations |
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Comments to: mfrancl@brynmawr.edu
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©Copyright 2005 Journal of Chemical Education
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