Boltzmann Equation

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

EthanPham_1G
Posts: 104
Joined: Sat Jul 20, 2019 12:17 am

Boltzmann Equation

Can someone explain the Boltzmann equation and what it is used to solve for? What is W (degeneracy)? How do you solve for W.

Ashley Fang 2G
Posts: 102
Joined: Fri Aug 30, 2019 12:17 am

Re: Boltzmann Equation

The Boltzmann Equation is: S = KBlnW
It shows the relationship between entropy and the number of ways the atoms or molecules of a thermodynamic system can be arranged.
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Posts: 113
Joined: Thu Jul 11, 2019 12:16 am

Re: Boltzmann Equation

Ashley Fang 2G wrote:The Boltzmann Equation is: S = KBlnW
It shows the relationship between entropy and the number of ways the atoms or molecules of a thermodynamic system can be arranged.

Accordingly, the Boltzmann equation can be used to solve for entropy.

Brian Tangsombatvisit 1C
Posts: 119
Joined: Sat Aug 17, 2019 12:15 am

Re: Boltzmann Equation

To get a number for W, you would have to determine the total number of possible states that your molecule or atoms could be in. For a 2-state system, the total number of possible outcomes your system could have is 2^n, where n= the number of atoms. You would typically use this equation to solve for S, which you could use to plug into delta G = delta H - T delta S to determine whether a reaction is spontaneous or not (spontaneous if G is negative).

Ruth Glauber 1C
Posts: 100
Joined: Wed Sep 18, 2019 12:20 am

Re: Boltzmann Equation

Can someone walk through an example?

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