Fundamentals of Physics Extended (10th Edition)

Published by Wiley
ISBN 10: 1-11823-072-8
ISBN 13: 978-1-11823-072-5

Chapter 20 - Entropy and the Second Law of Thermodynamics - Problems - Page 607: 47b

Answer

$\frac{W_A}{W_B} = \frac{(N/2!)(N/2!)}{(N/3!)(N/3!)(N/3!)}$

Work Step by Step

Visualize $\frac{1}{2}$ of the molecules is in the right side of the box, and the other half is in the left side of the box. Then the multiplicity is $ W_B= \frac{N!}{(N/2!)(N/2!)} $ and if $\frac{1}{3}$ of the molecules are in each third of the box, then the multiplicity is $ W_A= \frac{N!}{(N/3!)(N/3!)(N/3!)} $ The ratio of $\frac{W_A}{W_B} $ is $\frac{W_A}{W_B} = \frac{(N/2!)(N/2!)}{(N/3!)(N/3!)(N/3!)}$
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