STATISTICAL DISTRIBUTIONS:
Statistics is the branch of science which deals
with the collection , classification and
interpretation of numerical facts.
When applied to physics, called statistical
physics.
In this branch we deal with the system as a
whole rather than the individual particles or
molecules forming the system.
This mechanics concerns with the studies of
some average or most probable properties of the
system ( made of large number of particles)
without going into details of the individual
particles.
In fact: the larger is the number of particles,
more accurate the results are.
Distribution of four different particles in two
compartments of equal size:
Let us take 4 distinguishable particles a, b, c, d.
Distribute them in 2 equal size compartments.
Following assumptions are made.
[Link] particles thrown must go into the
compartments.
[Link] compartments are alike.
[Link] sum of the number of particles in both
the compartments must be 4.
[Link] 1st Compartment 2nd Compartment Distribution
1 a,b,c,d - 4,0
2 a,b,c d
b,c,d a 3,1
c,d,a b
d,a,b c
3 a,b c.d 2,2
b,c d,a
c.d a,b
d,a b,c
b,d a,c
a,c b,d
4 a b,c,d 1,3
b a,c,d
c a,b,d
d a,b,c
5 - a,b,c,d 0,4
Distribution of 4 particles into two halves of a
box or two compartments are:
(4,0) (3,1) (2,2) (1,3) (0,4)
The specification of the number of particles
in each compartment is known as
macrostate.
In above table there are 5 macrostates. That is
1 more than the number of particles.
For n number of particles the no. of
macrostates are = (n+1).
Each macrostate can have a number of
different arrangements of particles.
Each distinct arrangement is known as the
microstate of the system.
Macrostate Microstates
(4,0) 1
(3,1) 4
(2,2) 6
The number of microstates in the given macro
state is called frequency or thermodynamic
probability of the macro state.
For indistinguishable particles:
(4,0) 1
(3,1) 1
(2,2) 1
(1,3) 1
(0,4) 1
So, the no. of microstates in a macro state
depend upon the nature of particles.
1
Probabilty of Microstate
Total no. of microstate s
in the system
No . of microstate s in the macrostate
Pr obabilityo fmacrostat e
Total no of microstate s in the system
=Thermodynamic probability X
Probability of one microstate.
Distribution Of n Particles in 2 Compartments:
Consider n distinguishable particles to be
distributed in 2 equal size compartments.
Assume that there is no restriction on the no. of
particles entering in either compartment.
No. of macrostates = n+1
These are (0,n), (1,n-1), (2,n-2), -------(n,0).
No. of Microstates: The 1st particle can be put
in two ways, in comp. 1 or in comp. 2.
Similarly, 2nd particle can be put in two ways.
So, the no. of ways the two particles can be put
in two compartments = 2 X 2 = 4 = 22 .
No. of ways for n particles = 2n
= no. of microstates
Now, n particles can be arranged themselves in
nP
n ways.
n!
Now, nP = n!
n
(nn)!
Suppose, there are 4 particles, 3 of them go to
1st comp. and 1 go to 2nd comp.
This has 1 macro state. Now, 3 particles in 1st
Compartment can be arranged in 3! ways. That
is, 3X2X1 = 6 ways.
These arrangements are just repetitions, so
they are meaningless.
Therefore, 3 particles have 6 or 3! meaningless
arrangements.
If there are n1 particles in 1st comp. and n2 in
2nd comp, then there will be n1! and n2!
meaningless arrangements in 2 compartments.
Total no. of meaningless arrangements in both
the compartments = n1! n2!
Therefore, for n particles,
Total no. of ways = n!
= No. of M.F arrangements X
No. of M.L arrangements
= No. of M.F X n1! n2!
n!
Therefore, No. of M.F. arrangemen ts
n1 ! n 2 !
n!
because n2 = n-n1
n1 ! (n - n1 )!
= No. of microstates in a given macrostate
So, No. of microstates per macro state
= Thermodynamic probability = frequency
n!
= W(n1, n2)
n1 ! (n - n1 )!
Probability of a macrostate
P(n1,n2) = No. of micro states in a macrostate
Total No. of microstates.
W(n 1 , n 2 )
2n
n! 1
P(n1 , n 2 ) x n
n1 ! (n - n1 )! 2
Distribution of n particles in k compartments:
Let us consider a box of area A. Let it be divided
into k compartments of different sizes.
We have to distribute n particles.
Let n1 particles enter 1st comp.
n2 in 2nd compartment and so on.
Then n1 + n2 + n3 + …….+nk = n
As particles are distinguishable, n1 particles can
be arranged among themselves in n1! ways.
But these arrangements are meaningless.
Similarly,
n1! n2! , n3! -------- nk! arrangements will be M.L
Therefore, total no. of M.L arrangements are
k
n1!n2!n3!........nk! = ni !
i 1
1
Total no. of ways in which n particles can be
arranged among themselves = n!
Total no. of ways = No. of M.L.A x No. of M.F.A
k
n! No. of MFA x ni !
i 1
Or No. of MFA = W( n1, n2, -----nk)
n!
= k
ni!
i 1
Division into Cells:
Let us divide the compartments into small cells
of equal size.
Let g1, g2, g3 ……….gk be the no. of cells in
compartments 1,2,3,……….k. respectively.
Let g1+ g2+ g3+ ………+gk = G is the total no.
cells in the box and is very large.
Now particle in any compartment can go to
any cell of the compartment with equal
probability.
Let us take 1st Compartment:
It has n1 particles and g1 cells.
1st particle has the option to go into any of g1
cells.
So, it can be arranged in g1 ways.
2nd particle can also be arranged in g1 ways.
So, 2 particles can be arranged in 1st
compartment in = g1xg1 = g12 ways.
Hence, the total no. of ways by which n1
particles
can be arranged in 1st compartment = g1n1
Similarly, no. of ways in which n2 particles can be
arranged in 2nd compartment = g2n2
and so on.
So, total no. of ways in which n particles can be
arranged in k compartments;
n1 n2 nk k n
N g1 g 2 ............gk g i i
i 1
Therefore, no. of M.F.A in the cells
n!
W ( n 1 , n 2 ....... n k ) xN
ni!
ni
n! ni gi
x g i n!
ni ! ni!
Here, W(n1, n2, n3……… nk) is the number of
microstates i.e thermodynamic probability in
the given macrostate (n1, n2, n3,……..nk).
Each of these microstates has some
probability say, p.
Therefore, probability of macro state is
= p x no. of microstates
or P(n1, n2,….nk) = p x W(n1, n2,….nk)
or Prob. of macro probability of microstate
thermodynamic prob.
Thus thermodynamic probability (W) is a
measure of the probability for the system to be
in the macro state.