Consider a two-state paramagnet with 1023 elementary | StudySoup

Textbook Solutions for An Introduction to Thermal Physics

Chapter 2 Problem 23P

Question

Problem 23P

Consider a two-state paramagnet with 1023 elementary dipoles, with the total energy fixed at zero so that exactly half the dipoles point up and half point down.

a) How many microstates are “accessible” to this system?

b) Suppose that the microstate of this system changes a billion times per second. How many microstates will it explore in ten billion years (the age of the universe)?

c)  Is it correct to say that, if you wait long enough, a system will eventually be found in every “accessible” microstate? Explain your answer, and discuss the meaning of the word “accessible.”

Solution

Solution to 23P

Step 1

(a)

We need to find the number of microstates accessible to the system of a two-state paramagnet with 1023. elementary dipoles,with half dipoles pointing up and half pointing down.

N=1023

Taking log at both the sides,

Thus the number of microstates is very large for N=1023

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Title An Introduction to Thermal Physics  1 
Author Daniel V. Schroeder
ISBN 9780201380279

Consider a two-state paramagnet with 1023 elementary

Chapter 2 textbook questions

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