Statistical Thermodynamics: Partition Function and Stirling Approximation

This lecture covers the concept of the partition function in statistical thermodynamics, focusing on the Stirling approximation for large systems. It explains how to find the most probable occupancy for a state with a specific energy and the values for a and b. The lecture also delves into the canonical partition function and the internal energy of a closed system, emphasizing the importance of recognizing the higher order terms and neglecting small values. Additionally, it discusses the heat capacity at constant volume and the calculation of Cv using the Stirling approximation.