Question

You flip three coins (a nickel, a dime, and a quarter), assigning the values of +1 for heads (H) and –1 for tails (T). Each outcome after flipping the three coins constitutes a microstate. How many microstates are possible by flipping these three coins?

Answer 1

Answer:

8 possible microstates.

Explanation:

Supposed we tossed three (3) coins (a nickel, a dime, and a quarter).

The possible outcomes can be seen as follows.

Coin

1st. +1 +1 +1 -1 +1 -1 -1 -1

2nd +1 +1 -1 +1 -1 +1 -1 -1

3rd +1 -1 +1 +1 -1 -1 +1 -1

There 8 (eight) microstates are possible.