12.17 Einstein's Theory of Specific Heat
Einstein's derivation of specific heat formula is based upon the following assumptions:
- All atoms of a monatomic solid vibrate with the same frequency v.
- The frequency depends on the mass of the atom and the restoring force.
- These atoms, like Planck's oscillators, are in equilibrium with ether vibrations of the same frequency.
- Instead of classical law of equipartition, that is ½KT for each degree of freedom, Einstein uses the mean energy of Planck's oscillator for each degree of freedom, that is,
For one gram-atom of a monatomic solid, consisting of N atoms each with 3 degrees of freedom, the total ...