Simple and synergistic ways to understand the Boltzmann distribution function

This paper presents three approaches to providing undergraduate students with a conceptual understanding of the Boltzmann distribution: (1) a simple logical argument for why it is described by an exponential function, (2) a computational experiment to demonstrate and validate this result, and (3) a computer simulation of a laboratory experiment that allows this result to be observed. Together, these three perspectives complement one another to broaden students' understanding and prepare them for more formal, complete treatments. These examples illustrate how the convergence of theoretical, computational, and experimental approaches, applied to a single physical problem, contribute to a deeper and more unified understanding of statistical systems than could otherwise be had using any one of the methods alone. (C) 2015 American Association of Physics Teachers.