The effects of intermolecular interactions on the overall partition functions of elementary particles

Abstract

Elementary particles are atomic or sub-atomic particles that make up all kinds of matter. They are classified into two main groups, namely: bosons and fermions. In other words, bosons and fermions are found in all states of matter, viz: solids, liquids and gases. Fermions are constituents of matter while bosons are force carriers. Bosons are particles that transmit interactions or the constituents of radiation. In this work, the canonical ensemble partition functions were determined including the effects on intermolecular interactions. By using hydrogen, helium, bosons and fermions, the partition functions and the thermodynamic properties of internal energy, Helmholtz free energy and entropy were calculated. The partition functions of all systems considered, hydrogen, helium, bosons and fermions were shown to increase in the presence of intermolecular forces, the increase was more pronounced at increased temperatures in some cases. It was also determined that while the internal energies for fermions and bosons decreased, Helmholtz free energies for the particles decreased with temperature. It was found that, at ultra cold condition of below about 200 K, the entropy of bosons is 1.15x10-21 J/K while that of the fermions is 0.435x 10-21 J/K. This is understandable since the bosons condense at ultra cold conditions so their Entropy is lower.