Blundell Thermal Physics · Problem 1.4

Introduction

Physics — Statistical Mechanics · combinatorics

Problem

A system contains

n

atoms, each of which can only have zero or one quanta of energy. How many ways can you arrange

r

quanta of energy when (a)

n = 2

r = 1

; (b)

n = 20

r = 10

; (c)

n = 2 \times 10^{23}

r = 10^{23}