The following figures represent distributions of gas molecules between two containers connected by an open tube.Which one represents the configuration with the largest number of equivalent microstates (most ways of achieving it)?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The configuration with the largest number of equivalent microstates is the one that has the highest entropy. This occurs when the distribution of gas molecules between the two containers is the most uniform. In other words, each container has approximately the same number of gas molecules. Option D represents this distribution, where there are 5 gas molecules in one container and 5 in the other. This allows for the largest number of ways to arrange the molecules between the two containers, resulting in the largest number of equivalent microstates.

The Following Figures Represent Distributions of Gas Molecules Between Two