/*! This file is auto-generated */ .wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none} Problem 27 Rather than insisting that all t... [FREE SOLUTION] | 91Ó°ÊÓ

91Ó°ÊÓ

Rather than insisting that all the molecules be in the left half of a container, suppose we only require that they be in the leftmost \(99 \%\) (leaving the remaining \(1 \% \text { completely empty }) .\) What is the probability of finding such an arrangement if there are 100 molecules in the container? What if there are 10,000 molecules? What if there are \(10^{23} ?\)

Short Answer

Expert verified
Probability is 36.6% for 100 molecules, and virtually 0% for 10,000 and \(10^{23}\) molecules.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding the Problem

We are given a container filled with molecules. For each scenario (100, 10,000, and \(10^{23}\) molecules), we want to find the probability that all molecules are in the leftmost 99% of the container.
02

Setting up the Probability Formula

The probability that a single molecule is in a specified portion of a container is equal to the fraction of the container that portion occupies. Here, we want all molecules to be in 99% of the container, so the probability for each molecule is \(0.99\). If there are \(N\) molecules, the probability that all \(N\) molecules are in that 99% section is given by \(0.99^N\).
03

Calculating for 100 Molecules

Substitute \(N = 100\) into the formula: \(0.99^{100}\). Calculating this, we get approximately \(0.366\). This means there is a 36.6% chance that all 100 molecules will be in the leftmost 99% of the container.
04

Calculating for 10,000 Molecules

Substitute \(N = 10,000\) into the formula: \(0.99^{10,000}\). Compute this value, which is extremely small, approaching 0. Therefore, there's virtually no chance (0% probability) that all 10,000 molecules will be in the leftmost 99% simultaneously.
05

Calculating for Avogadro's Number

Substitute \(N = 10^{23}\) into the formula: \(0.99^{10^{23}}\). This computes to an infinitesimally small number close to 0, confirming that for such a large number of molecules, the probability is practically 0.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with 91Ó°ÊÓ!

Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Probability Theory
Probability Theory is essential for understanding how likely events are to occur within a defined range. In statistical mechanics, it helps us predict molecular behavior.Consider the example of distributing molecules in a container. For our task, we want to find the chance that all molecules are located in the leftmost 99% of the container. By calculating the probability, we look at each molecule having a 0.99 chance to be in that specific area. When dealing with multiple molecules, the probability decreases due to the complexities involved. This is quantified as the product of individual probabilities, displayed as \(0.99^N\), where \(N\) is the number of molecules in the container.
  • For 100 molecules, a 36.6% chance was calculated, showing a significant probability that they are all in the leftmost section.
  • For 10,000 molecules, the probability drops almost to 0%, demonstrating how the likelihood diminishes with larger numbers.
The power of Probability Theory lies in its ability to provide quantitative insights into complex systems, allowing us to predict outcomes even in seemingly random processes.
Molecular Distribution
When we talk about Molecular Distribution, we are discussing how molecules spread out within a given space. In a container, molecules move and occupy various positions based on physical laws and probability.In this particular problem, Molecular Distribution is analyzed by determining the number of molecules in specified regions of the container. If all molecules are required in 99% of the space, the probability calculation shows how far molecules deviate from uniform distribution.As molecule numbers increase, their distribution becomes increasingly uniform due to random movement. With 10 molecules, you might directly observe them clustered in one area. However, with 10,000 or even \(10^{23}\) molecules, they tend to distribute evenly, per the laws of large numbers. Hence, creating the improbability of them staying in just 99% of the space. This observation is a fundamental concept in statistical mechanics as it relates closely to thermodynamic laws and equilibrium states.
Avogadro's Number
Avogadro's Number is a constant used to count particles like atoms and molecules, commonly applied when describing quantities of substances. It is roughly \(6.022 imes 10^{23}\), representing the number of molecules in one mole of a substance.In our context, understanding Avogadro's Number is crucial when dealing with large numbers of molecules. With \(10^{23}\) molecules, applying the probability formula \(0.99^{10^{23}}\) produces a result so small, it is practically 0. This illustrates that in macroscopic scales involving Avogadro’s number, forming highly ordered configurations (like collecting all particles in one section) by chance is practically impossible.Key points include:
  • Avogadro's Number helps bridge the gap between macroscopic measurements and microscopic actions, allowing us to use statistical analysis on large-scale phenomena.
  • When scaled to such quantities, achieving extremely low-probability configurations is practically nonexistent.
Grasping Avogadro's Number allows students to contextualize molecular behavior in everyday thermodynamic and chemical processes, tying small-scale randomness to extensive behavioral trends.

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

Use a computer to produce a table and graph, like those in this section, for two interacting two-state paramagnets, each containing 100 elementary magnetic dipoles. Take a "unit" of energy to be the amount needed to flip a single dipole from the "up" state (parallel to the external field) to the "down" state (antiparallel). Suppose that the total number of units of energy, relative to the state with all dipoles pointing up, is \(80 ;\) this energy can be shared in any way between the two paramagnets. What is the most probable macrostate, and what is its probability? What is the least probable macrostate, and what is its probability?

Suppose you flip 20 fair coins. (a) How many possible outcomes (microstates) are there? (b) What is the probability of getting the sequence HTHHTTTHTHHHTHHHHTHT (in exactly that order)? (c) What is the probability of getting 12 heads and 8 tails (in any order)?

Fun with logarithms. (a) Simplify the expression \(e^{a \ln b} .\) (That is, write it in a way that doesn't involve logarithms.) (b) Assuming that \(b \ll a,\) prove that \(\ln (a+b) \approx(\ln a)+(b / a) .\) (Hint: Factor out the \(a\) from the argument of the logarithm, so that you can apply the approximation of part (d) of the previous problem.)

According to the Sackur-Tetrode equation, the entropy of a monatomic ideal gas can become negative when its temperature (and hence its energy) is sufficiently low. Of course this is absurd, so the Sackur-Tetrode equation must be invalid at very low temperatures. Suppose you start with a sample of helium at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, then lower the temperature holding the density fixed. Pretend that the helium remains a gas and does not liquefy. Below what temperature would the Sackur-Tetrode equation predict that \(S\) is negative? (The behavior of gases at very low temperatures is the main subject of Chapter \(7 .)\)

Consider a two-state paramagnet with \(10^{23}\) elementary dipoles, with the total energy fixed at zero so that exactly half the dipoles point up and half point down. (a) How many microstates are "accessible" to this system? (b) Suppose that the microstate of this system changes a billion times per second. How many microstates will it explore in ten billion years (the age of the universe)? (c) Is it correct to say that, if you wait long enough, a system will eventually be found in every "accessible" microstate? Explain your answer, and discuss the meaning of the word "accessible."

See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Physics Textbooks

View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.