Exploring entropy by counting microstates of the p-state paramagnet

Abstract

Moore and Schroeder proposed an effective approach to introducing entropy and the second law through computational study of models with easily countable states at fixed energy. However, such systems are rare: the only familiar examples are the Einstein solid and the two-state paramagnet, which limits the available questions for assignment or discussion. This work considers the more general p-state paramagnet and describes the modestly more complicated counting of its microstates. An instructor can draw on this family of systems to assign a variety of new problems or open-ended projects that students can complete with the help of a spreadsheet program or analytic calculation.