Entropy: Difference between revisions

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where <math>k_B</math> is the [[Boltzmann constant]] and <math>\Omega</math> (sometimes written as <math>W</math>)
where <math>k_B</math> is the [[Boltzmann constant]] and <math>\Omega</math> (sometimes written as <math>W</math>)
is the number of microscopic configurations that result in the observed macroscopic description of the thermodynamic system.
is the number of microscopic configurations that result in the observed macroscopic description of the thermodynamic system.
Note that this equation provides a link between [[Classical thermodynamics | classical thermodynamics]] and
[[Statistical mechanics | statistical mechanics]]
==Arrow of time==
==Arrow of time==
See Refs. 1 and 3.
See Refs. 1 and 3.

Revision as of 18:39, 21 May 2007

The entropy, S, is defined by

where is the Boltzmann constant and (sometimes written as ) is the number of microscopic configurations that result in the observed macroscopic description of the thermodynamic system.

Note that this equation provides a link between classical thermodynamics and statistical mechanics

Arrow of time

See Refs. 1 and 3.

See also:

References

  1. Milan M. Ćirković "The Thermodynamical Arrow of Time: Reinterpreting the Boltzmann–Schuetz Argument", Foundations of Physics 33 pp. 467-490 (2003)
  2. William G. Hoover "Entropy for Small Classical Crystals", Journal of Chemical Physics 49 pp. 1981-1982 (1968)
  3. Joel L. Lebowitz "Boltzmann's Entropy and Time's Arrow", Physics Today 46 pp. 32-38 (1993)