## Explaining Boltzmann's Equation

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

JeremyPark14B
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Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:19 am

### Explaining Boltzmann's Equation

What is the explanation behind Boltzmann's Equation? What exactly does it solve for?

Ashley Kim
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Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:19 am
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### Re: Explaining Boltzmann's Equation

Boltzmann's equation calculates positional/residual entropy using statistics.

Its form is S=kBlnW.

W is equal to the number of microstates (how many positions an element can be in in a molecule) raised to the power of the number of molecules in the system.

kB is a constnant.

Dimitri Speron 1C
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### Re: Explaining Boltzmann's Equation

The actual derivation for Boltzmann's equation is quite complicated and involves a lot of multivariable calc, so I would just take it for granted.

Andrew Bennecke
Posts: 62
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:15 am

### Re: Explaining Boltzmann's Equation

We use Boltzmann's equation to calculate residual or statistical entropy within a system. This differs from the majority of calculations that we do, finding the CHANGE in entropy.

armintaheri
Posts: 68
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:26 am

### Re: Explaining Boltzmann's Equation

I found a relatively accessible derivation of the formula here: http://www.eoht.info/page/S+%3D+k+ln+W

Ashe Chen 2C
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Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 8:23 am

### Re: Explaining Boltzmann's Equation

Boltzmann's equation solves for statistical or residual entropy, and is based on the number of microstates and number of molecules in a system.

Esther Lee 4H
Posts: 67
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:29 am

### Re: Explaining Boltzmann's Equation

how do you know how many molecules are present?

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