In a freshman physics course the classical law of equipartition of energy is usually stated without proof, because its usual derivation assumes knowledge of the Maxwell–Boltzmann distribution function, which is not always included in a first course. Here, instead, is a nonrigorous but plausible derivation based on simple mechanical models. It does not use the distribution function and it shows roughly how long it takes to reach thermal equilibrium.
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© 1987 American Association of Physics Teachers.
1987
American Association of Physics Teachers
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