Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 16, 2025
08:57
Optical Trap Loading of Dielectric Microparticles In Air
Published on: February 5, 2017
9.1K
Mpemba effect for a Brownian particle trapped in a single well potential
1The Institute of Mathematical Sciences, C.I.T. Campus, Taramani, Chennai 600113, India and Homi Bhabha National Institute, Training School Complex, Anushakti Nagar, Mumbai 400094, India.
Physical Review. E
|September 19, 2023
Summary
The Mpemba effect, where hot water freezes faster than cold, is shown to exist even without complex energy landscapes. This study demonstrates the Mpemba effect in a simple potential, challenging existing theories.
Area of Science:
- Statistical Mechanics
- Thermodynamics
- Complex Systems
Background:
- The Mpemba effect is a counterintuitive phenomenon where a hotter system equilibrates faster than a colder one.
- Existing explanations often rely on complex energy landscapes with multiple minima.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the Mpemba effect in a simplified system.
- To challenge the necessity of rugged energy landscapes for the Mpemba effect.
- To explore variations like inverse and strong Mpemba effects.
Main Methods:
- Exact solution for a Brownian particle in a piecewise linear single well potential.
- Analysis of system equilibration dynamics.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated the existence of the Mpemba effect in a simple potential without metastable minima.
- Showed the effect occurs across a wide range of parameters.
- Confirmed the existence of inverse and strong Mpemba effects.
Conclusions:
- The Mpemba effect can occur in systems with simple energy landscapes.
- Prevalent explanations requiring rugged potentials may not be universally applicable.
- The study provides a new theoretical framework for understanding the Mpemba effect.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Equilibrium Conditions for a Particle
1.2K
When an object is in equilibrium, it is either at rest or moving with a constant velocity. There are two types of equilibrium: static and dynamic. Static equilibrium occurs when an object is at rest, while dynamic equilibrium occurs when an object is moving with a constant velocity. In both cases, there must be a balance of forces acting on the object.
To understand the concept of equilibrium, let us first consider the forces acting on an object. When different forces act on an object, they can...
To understand the concept of equilibrium, let us first consider the forces acting on an object. When different forces act on an object, they can...
1.2K
01:23Atomic Nuclei: Nuclear Relaxation Processes
676
In the absence of an external magnetic field, nuclear spin states are degenerate and randomly oriented. When a magnetic field is applied, the spins begin to precess and orient themselves along (lower energy) or against (higher energy) the direction of the field. At equilibrium, a slight excess population of spins exists in the lower energy state. Because the direction of the magnetic field is fixed as the z-axis, the precessing magnetic moments are randomly oriented around the z-axis.
676
01:14Atomic Nuclei: Nuclear Spin State Population Distribution
1.0K
Near absolute zero temperatures, in the presence of a magnetic field, the majority of nuclei prefer the lower energy spin-up state to the higher energy spin-down state. As temperatures increase, the energy from thermal collisions distributes the spins more equally between the two states. The Boltzmann distribution equation gives the ratio of the number of spins predicted in the spin −½ (N−) and spin +½ (N+) states.
1.0K
02:32The de Broglie Wavelength
26.0K
In the macroscopic world, objects that are large enough to be seen by the naked eye follow the rules of classical physics. A billiard ball moving on a table will behave like a particle; it will continue traveling in a straight line unless it collides with another ball, or it is acted on by some other force, such as friction. The ball has a well-defined position and velocity or well-defined momentum, p = mv, which is defined by mass m and velocity v at any given moment. This is the typical...
26.0K
01:24Potential Due to a Magnetized Object
313
Magnetic dipoles in magnetic materials are aligned when placed under an external magnetic field. For paramagnets and ferromagnets, dipole alignment occurs in the direction of the magnetic field. However, the dipoles align opposite to the field in the case of diamagnets. This state of magnetic polarization due to the external field is called magnetization. Magnetization is defined as the dipole moment per unit volume. It plays a similar role to polarization in electrostatics.
The vector...
The vector...
313
01:27π Electron Effects on Chemical Shift: Overview
1.1K
An applied magnetic field causes loosely bound π-electrons in organic molecules to circulate, producing a local or induced diamagnetic field over a large spatial volume. As the molecules tumble in solution, the field generated by π-electrons in spherical substituents results in a zero net field. However, the net field generated by π-electrons in non-spherical substituents is not zero. The effect of this induced field depends on the orientation of the molecule with respect to B0,...
1.1K