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 17:39, 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
- Milan M. Ćirković "The Thermodynamical Arrow of Time: Reinterpreting the Boltzmann–Schuetz Argument", Foundations of Physics 33 pp. 467-490 (2003)
- William G. Hoover "Entropy for Small Classical Crystals", Journal of Chemical Physics 49 pp. 1981-1982 (1968)
- Joel L. Lebowitz "Boltzmann's Entropy and Time's Arrow", Physics Today 46 pp. 32-38 (1993)