Microstates and macrostates
Statistical Thermodynamics (UG) · Chemistry
Study notes
Two coins are tossed. List microstates and macrostates. Step 1: Microstates (4): HH, HT, TH, TT — each specific outcome. Step 2: Macrostates by number of heads: 2 heads (W=1: HH), 1 head (W=2: HT, TH), 0 heads (W=1: TT). Step 3: The '1 head' macrostate has the most microstates (W=2), so it's most probable (50%). Step 4: With 10²³ molecules, the maximum-W macrostate wins overwhelmingly — that's thermodynamics!