## degeneracy

Boltzmann Equation for Entropy: $S = k_{B} \ln W$

Ami_Pant_4G
Posts: 106
Joined: Sat Aug 24, 2019 12:17 am

### degeneracy

Can someone explain how degeneracy and the atom arrangements are relevant to entropy? thanks in advance.

Angus Wu_4G
Posts: 102
Joined: Fri Aug 02, 2019 12:15 am

### Re: degeneracy

Degeneracy, or W, is just the total number of energy states a system can achieve. You can think of entropy as chaos and a gradual decline to disorder. The higher the degeneracy, there are more possible states for the system to be, and the more possible states there are, the more potential for disorder there is. This is why in the equation S=klnW, as degeneracy increases (W), then S increases as well.

Angus Wu_4G
Posts: 102
Joined: Fri Aug 02, 2019 12:15 am

### Re: degeneracy

Here's a simple website that I used that helped me understand the concept, I hope it helps:

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hb ... ntrop.html

KBELTRAMI_1E
Posts: 108
Joined: Sat Jul 20, 2019 12:17 am

### Re: degeneracy

Angus Wu_4G wrote:Here's a simple website that I used that helped me understand the concept, I hope it helps:

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hb ... ntrop.html

I found this super helpful! thank you!

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