Physics 3180: Thermal Physics
Syllabus for Spring 2005:
Office: Science Lab. Building, Room 205M
Office Telephone: (801) 626-6203 Secretary: (801) 626-6163
Textbook: D. V. Schroeder: "An Introduction to Thermal Physics"
(Publisher: Addison Wesley Longman, Year 2000)
Text Author's WEB-site: http://physics.Weber.edu/thermal/
Class Time: MWF 10:00 - 10:50 AM
Office Hours: Drop in practically any time to ask questions
and get hints for homework problems.
Also:
In
the afternoons on Tuedays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, Dr. Spjeldvik supervises
physics
laboratories
in
SL
221
and
SL222:
you can walk in and ask questions even then!
Outline of the Course Content --
Spring
Semester 2005
Textbook Chapter 1:
Energy Concepts and Applications in Thermal Physics.Thermal Equilibrium, Ideal
Gas relations, Equipartition,Concepts of Heat and Work, Heat Capacities
Textbook Chapter 2:
Second Law of Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics.System Microstates and
Macrostates, Multiplicity Function, Interacting Systems, Large Systems, Ideal
Gas Statistics, Concept of Entropy.
Textbook Chapter 3:
Physical Interactions and Systems Applications.Use of Temperature Concept,
Entropy and Heat Capacities, Mechanical Equilibrium, Pressure, Diffusive Equilibrium,
Concept of Chemical Potential.
Textbook Chapter 4:
Thermodynamic Engines and Refrigerators. Heat
Engine Efficiencies, Functionality of Refrigerators
Textbook Chapter 5:
Thermodynamic Free Energy and Chemical Reactions.Concept
of Free Energy in Thermodynamics, Phase Transformations of Substances and Systems.
Textbook Chapter 6: Boltzmann Statistical Mechanics of Non-Quantum Systems.
Boltzmann Factor, the Partition Function, Maxwell Speed Distributions, Ideal
Gas reexamined.
Textbook Chapter 7:
Quantum Statistics of Non-Classical Systems.The Gibbs Factor, Bosons, Fermions,
Fermi Gas at/near Absolute Zero Temperature, the Photon "Gas", Blackbody
Radiation.
THE COURSE
What we experience in the everyday world of the macroscopic (scales much greater that atomic and molecular scales) is determined by the average microscopic behavior of a huge number of microscopic particles (molecules, atoms, free electrons, free photons, ....). The description of these phenomena is known as THERMAL PHYSICS. The discipline includes:
(1) How the distribution of energy among the particles in a physical system,
and the transfer of energy between parts of the system, and interactions with
the environment determines the microscopic properties of the system.
(2) How to determine the average values of these microscopic properties
(3) How to identify those average properties with the macroscopically observables
This is one of the deepest views we have of how nature operates and yields
the observables, and it is expressed by some of the most elegant and encompassing
theories in physics.
COURSE POLICY
As a student in this course, you are responsible for all material presented
in the text and on the lectures, occasionally including supplemental material
not
part of the main textbook.
Careful attention should be paid to the homework assignments. These are most
often much more than "plug-in" exercises, and are specifically designed
to help you master the course material and to provide you with deeper intellectual
understanding of the concepts covered in the lectures.
Do not fall into the trap of believing that you "know" and understand
the course material -- even though you have great difficulties with the homework
assignments. Learning physics is DOING PHYSICS. If you truly get stuck, do
not spend more than one hour on any given assigned problem, but come and ask
your
professor for hints and help.
Mathematics is the language of physics. As supplemental material to go with
this course, you should have a mathematical handbook which contains a fairly
complete
table of integrals, series expansions and other mathematical formulae. A good
(and inexpensive) choice is the Schaum's Outline Series: "MATHEMATICAL HANDBOOK" by
Murray R. Spiegel.
Using internet access from the Physics Majors' room, or the WSU Learning Center,
from the WSU computer service building, or from a home computer, be sure to
visit and extract information from the WSU/Physics WEB-page: "Computer
Problems in An Introduction to Thermal Physics" at
the WEB-site:
http://physics.Weber.edu/thermal/computer.html
The most pertinent of that material is reproduced here.
Two mid-term exams will be given on the days indicated in the lecture schedule.
No make-up exam will be given without advance permission from your professor.
GRADING
Homework 12 homework sets 36% (i.e., 3% each)
Midterm Exam 1 exam 24%
Final Exam 1 exam 40%
FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITY: Any WSU student requiring accommodations or services due to disability must contact Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) in room 181 of the Student Service Center. The SSD can also arrange to provide course materials (including this syllabus) in alternative formats, if necessary. Your professor will also be as helpful as possible in making reasonable accommodations as necessary and possible.