ABSTRACT
In our discussion on statistical mechanics associated with the kinetic theory of gases, we studied a model system of four gas molecules and how they
could be arranged at different energy levels. For a total energy of E = 3E1, the following arrangements were possible, where is called the statistical weight of the macrostate. m1 m2 m3 m4
= 4
= 4
E = 3E1 Over time, if the macroscopic quantities N, V and E are not changing, the system will cycle through every one of those possible microstates. But the probability of encountering a microstate within those of the greatest statistical weight is far greater (especially for 1 1
= 12
large values of N) than the probability of finding a microstate not included in the macrostate of the greatest statistical weight – the latter being so small as to be negligible.
