Final answer:
The classical partition function for an ideal gas containing N particles can be calculated using the equation Z = (1/N!) x (V/λ^3)^N
Step-by-step explanation:
The classical partition function for an ideal gas containing N particles can be calculated using the equation Z = \frac{1}{N!} \left(\frac{V}{\lambda^3}\right)^N
- Identify the knowns: N (number of particles), V (volume), and \lambda (thermal wavelength).
- Calculate the thermal wavelength using the equation \lambda = \frac{h}{\sqrt{2\pi m k T}} where h is Planck's constant, m is the mass of a particle, k is Boltzmann's constant, and T is the temperature.
- Substitute the values into the equation Z = \frac{1}{N!} \left(\frac{V}{\lambda^3}\right)^N and calculate the result.