This project will investigate in a preliminary way two specific problems in statistical mechanics for the purpose of preparing a more detailed proposal. One problem is concerned with the limiting behavior of a large mass piston randomly colliding with small atoms when the speed of all objects involved are of comparable magnitude. The second problem is concerned with the stationary state of a system, consisting of two reservoirs maintained at different temperature and density and separated by a thermally conducting barrier with molecules trapped inside the barrier colliding reservoir atoms passing freely through the barrier walls.
