Use Stirling's approximation to find an approximate formula for the multiplicity of a two-state paramagnet. Simplify this formula in the limit NNto obtain ΩNe/NN. This result should look very similar to your answer to Problem 2.17; explain why these two systems, in the limits considered, are essentially the same.

Short Answer

Expert verified

The two state of paramagnet and the system is formaly equivalent to an Einstein solid

ΩNeNN

Step by step solution

01

Two state of paramagnet 

Consider two-state paramagnet with Nmagnetic dipoles and Nenergy quanta, since the system is formally equivalent to an Einstein solid (we're distributing the energy quanta among dipoles rather than oscillators). The multiplicity of the paramagnet is then:

ΩN',N=N+N-1N

Writing out the binomial coefficient:

ΩN,N=N+N-1N=N+N-1!N!(N-1)!

since N>>N, and they are large numbers, so:

ΩN,N=N+N!N!N!

take the natural logarithms for both sides:

ln(Ω)=lnN+N!N!N!

but, we have these logarithmic relations:

lnab=ln(a)-ln(b)ln(ab)=ln(a)+ln(b)

02

Logarithm

ln(Ω)=lnN+N!N!N!=lnN+N!-ln(N!)-lnN!

use Stirling's approximation for the logarithm of a factorial:

ln(n!)nln(n)-n

so,we get:

ln(Ω)N+NlnN+N-N+N-Nln(N)+N-NlnN+N

ln(Ω)N+NlnN+N-Nln(N)-NlnN

If we now use the assumption that N>>N, we get:

ln(Ω)N+NlnNNN+1-Nln(N)-NlnN

we factored out Nfrom the first logarithm:

ln(Ω)N+Nln(N)+lnNN+1-Nln(N)-NlnN

but, we have the logarithmic relation:

lnab+1ab

for b>>a, so:

03

To neglect second term 

ln(Ω)Nln(N)+NNN+Nln(N)+NNN-Nln(N)-NlnNln(Ω)Nln(N)+N2N+N-NlnN

ln(Ω)N+Nln(N)+NN-Nln(N)-NlnN

ln(Ω)Nln(N)-lnN+N2N+N

but, =ln(Ω)NlnNN+N, so:

ln(Ω)NlnNN+N2N+N

use the assumption thatN>>N, to neglect the second term:

ln(Ω)NlnNN+N
04

Exponentiating both sides 

Exponentiating both sides this equation gives the approximate value for Ω, so:

e(ln(Ω))eNlnNN+NΩelnNNeNΩelnNNNeN\

but,e^{\ln(x)}=x, SO:

ΩNNNeN

ΩNeNN

The corresponding result in N<<Ncase is:

ΩNeNN

which could have been predicted easily, sinceNandNappear symmetrically in the following approximation:

ΩN,N=N+N!N!N!

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Most popular questions from this chapter

How many possible arrangements are there for a deck of 52playing cards? (For simplicity, consider only the order of the cards, not whether they are turned upside-down, etc.) Suppose you start w e in the process? Express your answer both as a pure number (neglecting the factor of k) and in SI units. Is this entropy significant compared to the entropy associated with arranging thermal energy among the molecules in the cards?

This problem gives an alternative approach to estimating the width of the peak of the multiplicity function for a system of two large Einstein solids.

(a) Consider two identical Einstein solids, each with Noscillators, in thermal contact with each other. Suppose that the total number of energy units in the combined system is exactly 2N. How many different macrostates (that is, possible values for the total energy in the first solid) are there for this combined system?

(b) Use the result of Problem2.18to find an approximate expression for the total number of microstates for the combined system. (Hint: Treat the combined system as a single Einstein solid. Do not throw away factors of "large" numbers, since you will eventually be dividing two "very large" numbers that are nearly equal. Answer: 24N/8πN.)

(c) The most likely macrostate for this system is (of course) the one in which the energy is shared equally between the two solids. Use the result of Problem 2.18to find an approximate expression for the multiplicity of this macrostate. (Answer:24N/(4πN) .)

(d) You can get a rough idea of the "sharpness" of the multiplicity function by comparing your answers to parts (b) and (c). Part (c) tells you the height of the peak, while part (b) tells you the total area under the entire graph. As a very crude approximation, pretend that the peak's shape is rectangular. In this case, how wide would it be? Out of all the macrostates, what fraction have reasonably large probabilities? Evaluate this fraction numerically for the case N=1023.

For each of the following irreversible processes, explain how you can tell that the total entropy of the universe has increased.
a Stirring salt into a pot of soup.
b Scrambling an egg.
c Humpty Dumpty having a great fall.
d A wave hitting a sand castle.
e Cutting down a tree.
fBurning gasoline in an automobile.

Use a pocket calculator to check the accuracy of Stirling's approximation forN=50 . Also check the accuracy of equation 2.16forlnN! .

Consider a two-state paramagnet with 1023elementary 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."

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