Question

What does each letter mean below?

S = klnW

a) S = entropy, k = kinetic energy, W = work
b) S = entropy, k = Boltzmann constant, W = number of microstates
c) S = system, k = Kelvin temperature, W = heat transfer
d) S = specific heat, k = work done, W = energy change

Answer 1

In the equation S = klnW, 'S' represents entropy, 'k' is the Boltzmann constant, and 'W' is the number of microstates, which shows the statistical relationship between entropy and the microstates of a system.

Step-by-step explanation:

The equation S = klnW represents the statistical definition of entropy (S) as it relates to thermodynamics and statistical mechanics. In this equation, 'S' stands for entropy, which is a thermodynamic property proportional to the degree of disorder or the number of possible configurations (microstates) a system can have. The symbol 'k' represents Boltzmann's constant, which is a key constant in the field of statistical mechanics and has a value of 1.38 × 10-23 J/K. Finally, 'W' is the number of microstates, which are the specific ways in which a system can be arranged, with each corresponding to a unique configuration of the locations and energies of the atoms or molecules within the system.

Therefore, the correct interpretation of each symbol in the equation S = klnW is b) S = entropy, k = Boltzmann constant, W = number of microstates. This relation shows that the greater the number of microstates (W), the higher the entropy (S).