Thermodynamics 6c - Heat Capacity and the Third Law III
Channel: ViaScience
Date: 2020-07-15

Previously we developed the concept of quadratic degrees of freedom and equipartition of energy. We also saw how Einstein applied quantum mechanics to atomic vibrations to explain the "freezing" of vibrational degrees of freedom at low temperatures. Here we apply these ideas to develop a theory of the heat capacity of diatomic and more complex molecules.