Answer to Question #106848 in Molecular Physics | Thermodynamics for MS

Question #106848
4 molecules are to be distributed in 2 cells . Find possible number of macrostates and corresponding no.of microstates.
1
Expert's answer
2020-03-31T09:25:20-0400

Compartment-wise distributions of a system of particles are known as macrostates of the system. There are five macrostates observed corresponding to a system of four particles . In general, for a system of n particles, there are exactly n+1 macrostates (for the system of n particles to be distributed in two identical compartments). These macrostates are actually the following distribution of particles:

d1=(0,n)

d2=(1,n−1)

d3=(2,n−2)

dk=(k−1,n−k+1)

dn+1=(n,0)

It can be observed that a macrostate may have many corresponding microstates. The distribution d1=(0,4) has one microstate {{ }{a,b,c,d}}, while the distribution d2=(1,3) has four, d3 has six , d4 has four and d5 has one.

The total number of microstates for the system of four particles is, therefore, 1+4+6+4+1=16=24. In general, total number of microstates for the system of n-particles in ‘two compartment’ composition is 2n.


Need a fast expert's response?

Submit order

and get a quick answer at the best price

for any assignment or question with DETAILED EXPLANATIONS!

Comments

No comments. Be the first!

Leave a comment

LATEST TUTORIALS
New on Blog
APPROVED BY CLIENTS