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Fundamentals of Statistical And Thermal Physics

Frederick Reif

Chapter 1

Introduction to statistical methods - all with Video Answers

Educators


Chapter Questions

02:57

Problem 1

What is the probability of throwing a total of 6 points or less with three dios?

Supratim Pal
Supratim Pal
Numerade Educator
02:37

Problem 2

Consider a game in which six true dice are rolled. Find the probability of obtaining
(a) exactly one ace
(b) at least one ace
(c) exactly two aces

Narayan Hari
Narayan Hari
Numerade Educator
01:11

Problem 3

A number is chosen at random between 0 and 1 . What is the probability that exactly 5 of its firet 10 decimal places consist of digits less than $5 ?$

AG
Ankit Gupta
Numerade Educator
04:29

Problem 4

A drunk starts out from a lamppost in the middle of a street, taking steps of equal length either to the right or to the left with equal probability. What is the probability that the man will again be at, the lamppost after taking $N$ steps
(a) if $N$ is even?
(b) if $N$ is odd?

Fan Yang
Fan Yang
Numerade Educator
02:22

Problem 5

In the game of Russian roulette (not recommended by the author), one inserts a single cartridge into the drum of s revolver, leaving the other five chambers of the drum empty. One then spins the drum, aims st one's head, and pulls the trigger.
(a) What is the probability of being still alive after playing the game $N$ times?
(b) What is the probability of surviving $(N-1)$ turns in this game and then being shot the $N$ th time one pulls the trigger?
(c) What is the mean number of times a player gets the opportunity of pulling the trigger in this macabre game?

Lucas Finney
Lucas Finney
Numerade Educator
01:36

Problem 6

Consider the random walk problem with $p=q$ snd let $m=n_{1}-n_{z}$ denote the net displacement to the right. After a total of $N$ steps, calculate the following mean values: $\bar{m}, \overline{m^{2}}, \overline{m^{3}}$, and $\overline{m^{4}}$.

Surendra Kumar
Surendra Kumar
Numerade Educator
03:20

Problem 7

Derive the binomial distribution in the following algebraic way, which does not involve any explicit combinstorial analysis. One is again interested in finding the probability $W(n)$ of $n$ successes out of a total of $N$ independent trials. Let $w_{1}=p$ denote the probability of s success, $u_{2}=1-p=q$ the corresponding probability of a failure. Then $W(n)$ can be obtained by writing
$W(n)=\sum_{i=1}^{2} \sum_{j=1}^{2} \sum_{k=1}^{2} \ldots \sum_{m=1}^{2} u_{j} w_{j} v_{h} \cdots w_{m}$
Here each term contains $N$ factors and is the probability of a particular combination of successes and failures. The sum over all combinations is then to be taken only over those terms involving $w_{1}$ exactly $n$ times, i.e., only over those terms involving $\varphi_{1}{ }^{n}$.

By rearranging the sum (1), show that the unrestricted sum can be written in the form
$$
W(n)=\left(w_{1}+w_{2}\right)^{N}
$$
Expanding this by the binomial theorem, show that the sum of all terms in (1) involving $w_{1}^{2}$, i.e., the desired probability $W(n)$, is then simply given by the one binomial expension term which involves $w_{1}^{n}$.

Bon Zapata
Bon Zapata
Numerade Educator
02:26

Problem 8

Two drunks start out together at the origin, each having equal probability of making a step to the left or right along the $x$ axis. Find the probability that they meet again after $N$ steps. It iz to be understood that the men make their steps simultaneously. (It may be helpful to consider their relative motion.)

Hunza Gilgit
Hunza Gilgit
Numerade Educator
01:28

Problem 9

The probability $W(n)$ that an event characterized by a probatahty $p$ occurs $n$ times in $N$ trials was shown to be given by the binomisl distrikution
$$
W(n)=\frac{N !}{n !(N-n) !} \not^{n}(1-p)^{N-n}
$$
Consider a situation where the probability $p$ is small $(p \ll 1)$ and where one is interested in the case $n \ll N .$ (Note that if $N$ is large, $W(n)$ becomes very small if $n \rightarrow N$ because of the amsllness of the factor $p^{n}$ when $p \ll 1$. Hence $W(n)$ is indeed only appreciuble when $n \ll N$.) Several approximations caz then be made to reduce (1) to simpler form.
(a) Lizing the result $\ln (1-p)=-p$, show that $(I-p)^{N \rightarrow} \Leftrightarrow e^{-N /}$.
(b) Show that $N ! /(N-n) ! \approx N^{n}$.
(c) Hence show that (1) reduces to
$$
W(n)=\frac{\lambda^{n}}{n !} e^{-\lambda}
$$
where $\lambda=N p$ is the mean number of events. The distribution (2) is called the "Poisson distribution."

Manik Pulyani
Manik Pulyani
Numerade Educator
05:33

Problem 10

Consicler the Poisson distribution of the preceding problem.
(a) Show that it is properly normalized in tbe sense thst $\sum_{n=0}^{N} W_{n}=1$.
(The sum can be extended to infinity to an excellent spproximstion, since $W$. is negligibly small when $n \geq N .)$
(b) Use the Poisson distribution to calculate $\bar{n} .$
(c) Use the Poisson distribution to calculate $\left(\overline{\Delta n)^{2}}=\overline{(n-\bar{n})^{2}}\right.$.

James Kiss
James Kiss
Numerade Educator
06:34

Problem 11

Assume that typogrsphical errors committed by a typesetter occur completely at random. Suppose tbst a book of 600 pages contsins 600 such errors. Use the Poiszon distribution to calculate the probability
(a) thst a psge contains no errors
(b) that a page contains at least three errors

Barsha Rana
Barsha Rana
Numerade Educator
01:28

Problem 12

Consider the $\alpha$ psrticles emitted by a radiosctive source during some time interval $t .$ One can insgine this time intervsl to be subdivided into meny small intervals of length $\Delta e$. Since the $\alpha$ particles are emitted st random times, the probability of a radioactive disintegration oecurring during suy such tixne $\Delta t$ is completely independent of whatever disintegrations occur at other times. Furthermore, $\Delta t$ can be imsgined to be chosen smsll enough so that the probability of more than one disintegration occurring in a time $\Delta t$ is negligibly smsll. This means that there is some probability $p$ of one disintegration pecurring during s time $\Delta t$ (with $p \ll 1$, since $\Delta t$ was chosen small enough) snd probsbility $1-p$ of no disintegration occurring during this time. Each such time interval $\Delta t$ can then be regarded as an independent trial, there being a total of $N=t / \Delta t$ such trisls turing a time $\ell$
(a) Shew that the probablitr $\mathrm{II}^{\top}(n)$ of $n$ devintegrations occurring in a time $t$ is given by a Poisgon distribution.
(b) Suppose that the streagth of the radioactive source is such that the mesn number of disintegrations per minute is 24. What is the probability of obtaining $n$ counts in a time interval of 10 seconds? Ohtain numericsl values for all integral values of $n$ from 0 to 8 .

Manik Pulyani
Manik Pulyani
Numerade Educator
07:33

Problem 13

A metal is evaporated in vacuum from a hot filament. The resultant metal atoms are incident upon s qusrtz plste some distance away and form there $B$ thin metallic film, This quartz plate is maintesined at a low temperature so thal. any metal atom incident upen it sticks at its place of impact without further mipration. The metal atoms can be ansumed equslly likely to impinge upon any element of area of the plate. If one considers an clement of substrite sres of gize $b^{x}$ (nhere $b$ is the mete] atorn dismeter), show that the number of metsl atoms piled up on this ares should be distributed approximately according to a Poiason distribution Suppose that one evaporstes enongh metel to form a film of mean thickness corresponding to 6 atomic layers. What frsction of the aubstrate sres is tben not covered by metal at sll? What fraction is covered, respectively, by metal luyers 3 atoms thick and 6 atoms thick?

Marissa Turner
Marissa Turner
Numerade Educator
02:23

Problem 14

A penny is tossed 400 times, Find the probability of getting 215 heads.

Karly Williams
Karly Williams
Numerade Educator
05:23

Problem 15

A set of telephone lines is to be installed so as to connect town $A$ to town $B$. The town A has 2000 telephones. If esch of tbe telephone users of $A$ were to be guarabteed instsnt secess to make calls to $B, 2000$ telephone lines would be needed. This would be rather extravagant. Suppose that during the busicst hour of the day each subseriber in $A$ requires, on the average, a telephone connection to $B$ for two minutes, and that theae telephone cslis are made st random. Find the rrinimum nunber If of telephone lines to $\boldsymbol{B}$ which must be installed so that at most only 1 jereent of the callers of town $A$ will fail to hsve immediate becess to a telephone line to $B$. (Suggestion: spproximate the distribution by A Gausian distribution to facilitste the arithrpetic.)

Karla Conrey
Karla Conrey
Numerade Educator
12:19

Problem 16

Consider 8 gas of $N_{b}$ noninterscting molecules enclosed in a container of volume $\boldsymbol{V}_{0}$ Focus attention on any bubvoluine $\boldsymbol{V}$ of this container and denote by $\mathbf{N}$ the number of molecules located within this bubvolume. Esch molecule is equally likely to be located anywere within the container; hence the probsbility that s given molecule is located within the subvolume $\boldsymbol{V}$ is simply equsl to $\boldsymbol{V} / \boldsymbol{V}_{0}$
(a) What is the mean number $\bar{N}$ of molecules locsted witbin $V ?$ Express your answer in terms $N_{b}, V_{0}$, and $V$.
(b) Find the relative dispersion $\overline{(N-\bar{N})^{2}} / \bar{N}^{*}$ in the number of molecules located within $\boldsymbol{V}$. Expreas your answer in terms of $\vec{N}, V$, snd $V_{\mathrm{E}}$
(c) What does the answer to part (b) becone wben $V \ll V_{0} ?$
(d) What value should the dispersion $\overline{(N-\bar{N})^{2}}$ sssume when $V \rightarrow V_{a} ?$ Does the auswer to part (b) sqree with this expectation?

Sheh Lit Chang
Sheh Lit Chang
University of Washington
01:18

Problem 17

Suppose that in the preceding problem the volume $V$ under consideration is such that $0 \ll V / V_{0} \ll 1 .$ What is the probability that the number of molecules in this volume is between $N$ and $N+d N ?$

Narayan Hari
Narayan Hari
Numerade Educator
01:14

Problem 18

A molecule in n gas moves equal distances $l$ between collisions with equal probability in any direction. After a total of $N$ such disptacements, what is the mean square displacement $\overline{R^{2}}$ of the molecule from its starting point?

Ajay Singhal
Ajay Singhal
Numerade Educator
03:58

Problem 19

A battery of totel emf $Y$ is connected to s resistor $R ;$ as a result sn amount of power $P=V^{2} / R$ is dissipated in this resistor. The battery itself consistr of $N$, individual cells connected in series so that $V$ is just equsl to the sum of the emf's of sll these celks. The battery is old, however, so that not all cells are in perfect condition. Thus there is only a probability $p$ that the emf of sny individusl cell has its normal value $v$; sod s probability $1-p$ that the emf of any individual cell is zero bechuse the cell has becume internally shorted. The individual cells are statistically indepeodent of eacb other. Under these conditions, calculate the meen power $\bar{P}$ dissipsted in the resistor, expressing the result in tsrms of $N, v$, and $p .$

Vishal Gupta
Vishal Gupta
Numerade Educator
03:38

Problem 20

Consider A' similar sntennas ernitting lincarly polarized electromagnetic radistion of wavelengtb $\lambda$ and velocity c. The antennss are located along the $x$ sxis at a separstion $\lambda$ from each other. An observer is located on the $x$ axis at 8 great dintance from the antennas, BHen a single antenne maliates, the observer measures en intensity (i.e., mesn-square electric-feld amplitude) equal to $I$.
(a) If all the antennas are driven in phase by the seme generator of frequency $y=c / \lambda$, what is the total intensity measured by the observer?
(b) If the antennss all radiate st the same frequency $v=c / \lambda$ but with completely random phases, what is the mean intensity measured by the observer?

Farhanul Hasan
Farhanul Hasan
Numerade Educator
03:43

Problem 21

Radsr signels have reeently been reflected from the planet Venus. Suppose that in sucb an experiment s pulse of electromsguetic radistion of durstion $\tau$ is sent from the earth toward Venus. A time $t$ later (which corresponds to the tixne necessary for light to go from the earth to Venus and beck again) the receiving antenns on the earth is turned on for a time $T .$ The returning echo ought then to register on the recording meter, placed at the cutput of the electronic equipment following the receiving antenns, as s very faint signal of defnite amplitude $a_{4}$ But a fluctusting randon signal (due to the inevitahle fuctustions in the radiation fiek in outer space and due to enrrent fluctuations alwaye existing in the sensitive receiving equipment itself) slso registers as a signsl of smplitude $a_{n}$ on the reeording meter. This meter thus registers a total amplitucle $a=a_{x}+a_{n}$.
Although $a_{n}=0$ on the average, since $a_{n}$ is as likely to be positive as negstive, there is considerable probsbility that $a_{n}$ attains values considerably in excess of $a_{a}$; i.e, the root-mean-squsre smplitude $\left(\overrightarrow{a_{m}^{2}}\right)^{\text {tan be considersbly }}$ greater than the signsl $a_{4}$ of interest. Suppose that $\left(\overline{\left.a_{n}^{3}\right)^{3}}-1000 a_{4}\right.$ Tben the fluctuating signsl $a_{n}$ eosstitutes a background of "noise" which makes observation of the desired echo signal essentially impossible. On the other hsnd, suppose that $N$ such radsr pulses are sent out in succession and that the total amplitudes $a$ picked up at the recording equipment after esch pulse are sll added together before being displaved on the recording meter. The resulting amplitude must then have the form $A=A_{n}+A_{n}$, where $A_{n}$, represents the resultant noise smplitude (with $A_{n}=0$ ) and $A=A$, represents the resultant echo-signal kmplitude. How many pulses must be sent out before $\left(A_{m}^{3}\right)^{1}=A$, so that the echo signal becomes detectsble?

Salamat Ali
Salamat Ali
Numerade Educator
08:50

Problem 22

Consider the random wslk problem in one dimepsion, the probability of s displacement between and $t+d$ being
$$
w(\varepsilon) d s=\left(2 \pi \sigma^{2}\right)^{-1} e^{-(x-b)^{9 /} s^{0}} d s
$$
After $N$ steps,
(a) What is the mean displacement $\bar{x}$ from the origin?
(b) What is the dispersion $(x-\bar{x})^{4} ?$

Ruirui Liu
Ruirui Liu
Numerade Educator
01:25

Problem 23

Consider the rsndom wilk problem for a particle in one dirnension. Ascume that in each step its displacement is slware bositive and equally likely to be anywhere in the range between $l-b \mathrm{~s} \mathrm{~d} l+b$ where $b<t$. After $N$ steps, what ie
(a) the mean displacement $\bar{x}$ ?
(b) the dieperaion $\overline{(x-\bar{x})^{2} ?}$

Christopher Stanley
Christopher Stanley
Numerade Educator
View

Problem 24

(a) A particle is equally likely to lie snywhere on the carcumference of a circle. Cousider as the $z$ axis sny straight line in the plane of the circle and passing through its center. Deuote by 8 the angle between this $z$ axis and the straight line connecting the center of the circle to the psrticle. What is the probability that this angle lies between $\theta$ and $\theta+d \theta ?$
(b) A particle is equslly likely to lie snywhere on the surface of a sphere. Consider auy lins throngh the center of this sphere as the $z$ axis Denote by $\theta$ the sngle between this 2 axis and the straight bine connecting the center of the sphere to the particle. What is the probability thst this angle liey between $\theta$ and $\theta+d \theta ?$

Victor Salazar
Victor Salazar
Numerade Educator
11:52

Problem 25

Consicler s polycrystalline sample of $\mathrm{CaSO}_{4}-2 \mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}$ in an external magnetic field H. in the $z$ direction. The internal magnetic field (in the z direction) produced at the position of s given proton in the $\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}$ molecule by the neighboring proton is given by $\left(\mu / a^{2}\right)\left(3 \cos ^{2} \theta-1\right)$ if the spin of this neighboribg proton points ulong the applied field; it us given hy $-\left(\mu / a^{3}\right)\left(3 \cos ^{2} \theta-1\right)$ if this neighboring spin points in a direction opposite to the applied field. Here $\mu$ is the magnetic moment of the proton and $a$ ie the distance between the two protons, while $\theta$ denotes the angle between the line joining the protons ard the z axis. In this sample of randomly oriented erystals the neighboring proton is equslly likely to be located anywhere on the sphere of radius a surrounding the given proton.
(a) Whet is the probability $W(b) d b$ that the internal feld $b$ lies between $b$ and $b+d b$ if the neighboring proton spio is parallel to $B ?$
(b) What is this probability $W(b) d b$ if the neighboring proton spin is equally likely to be parallel or antipsrallel to $B ?$ Draw a sketch of $W(b)$ ss $a$ function of $b$.
(In a nuclear magnetie resonance experiment the frequency at which energy is absorbed from a radio-frequency mugnetic field is proportionsl to the locel msgnetie fielkl existing at the position of a proton. The snswer to part (b) pives, therefore, the shape of the absorption line observed in the experiment.)

Linda Winkler
Linda Winkler
Numerade Educator
02:56

Problem 26

Consider the random walk problem in one dimension and suppose thst the probsbility of a single displacement between 8 and $s+d s$ is given by
$$
\text { ec(s) } d b=\frac{1}{\pi} \frac{b}{s^{2}}+b^{2} d s
$$
Calculate the probability $P(x) d x$ that the total displacement after $N$ stepe lies between $z$ snd $x+d z$ Does $Q(x)$ become Gaussian when $N$ hecomes large? If not, does this violate the centrel limit theorem of Sec. $1.11 ?$

Tyler Gaona
Tyler Gaona
Numerade Educator
01:24

Problem 27

Consiler s very keneral one-dimensional rardom walk, where the probsbility that the ith displacement lies between $s_{i}$ and $s_{1}+d s_{i}$ is given by $\operatorname{tos}\left(\varepsilon_{i}\right) d b_{i}$, Here the probability density $t_{i}$ ehsracterizidg each step may be different and thus dependent on $i$. It is still true, however, that different displscements are statistically independent, i.e., $w_{1}$ for any one step does not depend on the displacements periormed by the particle in any other slep. Use argaments similar to those of See. $1.11$ to show that when the number $N$ of displacernents becomes Iarge, the probability $P(x) d x$ that the total dieplacement lies between $x$ and $x+d x$ will still tend to approsch the Gaussian form with a mesn value $\bar{z}=\bar{\Sigma}_{8}^{-}$ and a dispersion $\overline{(\Delta x)^{3}}=\sum \overline{\left(\Delta s_{i}\right)^{2}}$, This result constitutes a very general form of the central limit theorem.

Manik Pulyani
Manik Pulyani
Numerade Educator
01:36

Problem 28

Consider the random walk of a particle in thiree dimensions and let $w(s) d^{2}$ a denote the probsbility that its displacement $s$ lies in the range between and and s. between $s_{n}$ and $\left.8_{n}+d \theta_{2}\right)$. Let $O(r) d^{1} r$ denote the probability that the total displacement $r$ of the particle after $N$ uteps lies in the range between $r$ and $r+d r$. By generalizing the sargument of Sec. $1-10$ to three dimensions, show that where $Q(\boldsymbol{r})=\frac{1}{(2 \pi)^{2}} \int_{-=}^{\infty} d^{2} k e^{-i k \cdot} Q^{x}(k)$ $Q(k)=\int_{-=}^{\infty} d^{2} s e^{\lambda A_{1}}(a)$

Surendra Kumar
Surendra Kumar
Numerade Educator
01:36

Problem 29

(a) Using an pppropriate Dirse-delta function, find the prohability dengity $w(s)$ for displacements of uniform length $l$, but in sny random direction of threedimensanal space. (Hint: Remember thst the function $w(s)$ must be ruch thet $\iiint w(s) d s=1$ when integrated over all space.)
(b) C'se the result of part (a) to calculate $Q(k) .$ (Perform the integration in spherical coordmstes.)
(c) Kising this value of $Q(\boldsymbol{k})$, compute $\mathcal{P}(\boldsymbol{r})$ for $N=3$, thus solving the random walk problem in three dimengions for the case of three steps.

Surendra Kumar
Surendra Kumar
Numerade Educator