2007/06/07 by D. Sands, Sands, D., J. Dunning-Davies +1
Physics and Astronomy · #FOS: Physical sciences #General Physics (physics.gen-ph) #physics.gen-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.0706.0978
15 pages, 7 figures
arxiv created 2007/06/07 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01
Some of the more powerful results of mathematical statistics are becoming of increasing importance in statistical mechanics. Here the use of the central limit theorem in conjunction with the canonical ensemble is shown to lead to an interesting and important new insight into results associated with the canonical ensemble. This theoretical work is illustrated numerically and it is shown how this numerical work can form the basis of an undergraduate laboratory experiment which should help to implant ideas of statistical mechanics in students' minds.