Week 4 lecture 3 calculating W question
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Week 4 lecture 3 calculating W question
In class, we went over calculating w right before it ended. Could someone explain what the microstates are?
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Re: Week 4 lecture 3 calculating W question
Microstates are a part of the Boltzmann equation. Microstates (W) is the number of ways in a system for energy of molecules to be arranged. In the example given, there are two atoms with two same energy states. Therefore, there are 4 different ways (micro states) of arranging the energy of the atoms. If both energies of the molecules are within one of the two states, then W = 4 because 2^2. If there's 1 particle in each of the two states, then W=2 because 2^1.
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Re: Week 4 lecture 3 calculating W question
Does anyone know the point in microstates? I understood lavelle's discussion about this and the Boltzmann equation, but am having trouble understanding its applications. What is the point in making these distinctions?
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