The equipartition theorem is a formula from statistical mechanics that
relates the temperature of a system with its average energies. The original
idea of equipartition was that, in thermal equilibrium, energy is shared
equally among its various forms; for example, the average kinetic energy in
the translational motion of a molecule should equal the average kinetic
energy in its rotational motion. Like the virial theorem, the equipartition
theorem gives the total average kinetic and potential energies for a system
at a given temperature, from which the system's heat capacity can be
computed. However, equipartition also gives the average values of individual
components of the energy. It can be applied to any classical system in
thermal equilibrium, no matter how complicated. The equipartition theorem
can be used to derive the classical ideal gas law, and the Dulong–Petit law
for the specific heat capacities of solids. It can also be used to predict
the properties of stars, even white dwarfs and neutron stars, since it holds
even when relativistic effects are considered. Although the equipartition
theorem makes very accurate predictions in certain conditions, it becomes
inaccurate when quantum effects are significant, namely at low enough
temperatures.
Read the rest of this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equipartition_theorem
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Today's selected anniversaries:
69:
Vespasian became the fourth Roman Emperor in the Year of the Four Emperors.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Year_of_the_Four_Emperors)
1844:
The Rochdale Pioneers, usually considered the first successful cooperative
enterprise, opened their store in Rochdale, England, and formed the basis
for the modern cooperative movement.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rochdale_Pioneers)
1937:
The animated feature film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, based on the
fairy tale Snow White by the Brothers Grimm, premiered to a widely receptive
audience.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snow_White_and_the_Seven_Dwarfs_(1937_film)<…
)
1962:
Rondane National Park, Norway's first national park, was established.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rondane_National_Park)
1988:
Pan Am Flight 103: A Libyan government sponsored terrorist bomb exploded and
destroyed a Boeing 747 in flight over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing 270,
including 11 on the ground.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan_Am_Flight_103)
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
sheepishly (adv) Meekly; self-consciously; with embarrassment.
(
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/sheepishly)
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
If there is a God, I don't think He would demand that anyone bow down or
stand up to Him. I often have a suspicion that God is still trying to work
things out and hasn't finished.
--Rebecca West
(
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Rebecca_West)