Blundell Thermal Physics · Problem 4.7

Temperature and the Boltzmann factor

Physics — Statistical Mechanics · average-energy-n-state-harmonic-oscillator

Problem

Find the average energy

\langle E \rangle

for (a) An

n

-state system, in which a given state can have energy

0, \epsilon, 2\epsilon, \ldots, n\epsilon

. (b) A harmonic oscillator, in which a given state can have energy

0, \epsilon, 2\epsilon, \ldots

(i.e., with no upper limit).