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Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology
What are microstates?
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What are microstates?
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jeffreyH
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The graviton sucks
What are microstates?
«
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03/04/2016 11:28:42 »
The title of this thread may need changing. I am looking at the Boltzmann entropy formula for an ideal gas and I am wanting to understand the W parameter for microstates. Could this be considered to be a configuration space? If not where can I find more information?
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puppypower
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Re: What are microstates?
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03/04/2016 12:14:25 »
Entropy is a state variable, meaning for a given state of matter, such as water at 25C, the macro-state will define a fixed amount of entropy. This amount does not vary but is always the same for that macro-state. Water at 25C has a measured entropy of 6.6177 J ˣ mol-1 ˣ K-, which is the same in all labs.
The W term is connected to the micro states or sub-states that make up that Macro-state. For example, with an ideal gas at STP (standard temperature and pressure) the individual molecules/atoms can translate or move with linear motion, they can rotated, vibrate, twist, etc.. Each of these micro states is expressing part of the entropy, the sum of which is connected to the macro-state.
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