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Statistical mechanics, which Boltzmann pioneered, connects macroscopic observations with microscopic behaviors. His statistical explanation of the second law of thermodynamics was a significant achievement, and he provided the current definition of entropy ( S = k B ln Ω {\displaystyle S=k_{\rm {B}}\ln \Omega } ), where k B is the ...
In physics, statistical mechanics is a mathematical framework that applies statistical methods and probability theory to large assemblies of microscopic entities. Sometimes called statistical physics or statistical thermodynamics, its applications include many problems in the fields of physics, biology, [1] chemistry, neuroscience, [2] computer science, [3] [4] information theory [5] and ...
Paul Ehrenfest (18 January 1880 – 25 September 1933) was an Austrian theoretical physicist who made major contributions to statistical mechanics and its relation to quantum mechanics, including the theory of phase transition [1] and the Ehrenfest theorem.
Josiah Willard Gibbs Born (1839-02-11) February 11, 1839 New Haven, Connecticut, U.S. Died April 28, 1903 (1903-04-28) (aged 64) New Haven, Connecticut, U.S. Nationality American Alma mater Yale College (BA, PhD) Known for List Statistical mechanics Chemical thermodynamics Chemical potential Cross product Dyadics Exergy Principle of maximum work Phase rule Phase space Physical optics Physics ...
Shneidman's definition of suicide is a conscious act of self-induced annihilation, best understood as a multidimensional malaise in a needful individual who defines an issue for which suicide is perceived as the best solution. He thought of suicide as psychache or intolerable psychological pain.
In classical mechanics, the position and momentum variables of a particle can vary continuously, so the set of microstates is actually uncountable. In classical statistical mechanics, it is rather inaccurate to express the partition function as a sum of discrete terms.
This definition remains meaningful even when the system is far away from equilibrium. Other definitions assume that the system is in thermal equilibrium, either as an isolated system, or as a system in exchange with its surroundings. The set of microstates (with probability distribution) on which the sum is done is called a statistical ensemble.
In physics, specifically statistical mechanics, an ensemble (also statistical ensemble) is an idealization consisting of a large number of virtual copies (sometimes infinitely many) of a system, considered all at once, each of which represents a possible state that the real system might be in.