Syllabus for Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics
PHYS3127
Current Lecturer
Prof. Tianhui ZHANG Email: zhangtianhui@suda.edu.cn
Course Time
5th Semester
Lectures: 3 sessions/week, 50min /session. 18 weeks.
Course Description
This course consists of two parts. The first part is a brief review about fundamental concepts of thermodynamics and basic equations of states which have been addressed in General Physics. The focus of this course is the second part: Statistic Physics. Statistic physics applies the probability theory to thermodynamic systems composed of a large number of atoms or molecules and builds a bridge between the microscopic properties of individual particles and the macroscopic bulk properties. Statistic physics offers a framework for understanding the behavior of thermodynamics from a microscopic level.
Prerequisites
General Physics I (PHYS1025); Thermal physics (PHYS3102); Probability theory (00071005)
Textbooks
Stephen J.Blundell and Katherine M. Blundell, Concepts in Thermal Physics
Brian Cowan, Topics in Statistical Mechanics
Main contents
Week | Teaching Contents | Sessions | Objectives |
1 | Introduction Macroscopic view of matter | 3 | Thermodynamics and Statistic Physics ；First Law of Thermodynamics |
2 | Heat and Entropy | 3 | Properties of idea gas; Carnot Cycle |
3 | Heat and Entropy | 3 | Second Law and its implication Entropy Calculation |
4 | Using thermodynamics | 3 | Thermodynamic functions: U, F, H, G |
5 | Using thermodynamics | 3 | Maxwell's relation and application |
6 | Phase transition | 3 | Conditions for phase coexistence |
7 | Phase transition | 3 | Conditions for phase coexistence |
8 | Phase transition | 3 | Critical point and the phenomena around it |
9 | Statistic Approach | 3 | Microscopic states of classical particles |
10 | Statistic Approach | 3 | Microscopic states of quantum particles system; |
11 | Statistic Approach | 3 | Particle distribution and microstates of system |
12 | Quantum distributions and its classic limit | 3 | Bose Distribution, Fermi distribution, Boltzmann Distribution |
13 | Boltzmann Statistics | 3 | Partition function and its connection to thermodynamics |
14 | Boltzmann Statistics | 3 | Equipartition of energy; Idea gas with Boltzmann statistics |
15 | Bose Statistics | 3 | Partition function and the connection to thermodynamics |
16 | Bose Statistics and Fermi Statistics | 3 | Bose-Einstein condensation Partition function in Fermi systems and its connection to thermodynamics |
17 | Fermi Statistics | 3 | Ground state at T=0 K and Fermi energy |
18 | Ensembles | 3 | Microcanonical Ensemble and Canonical Ensemble |
Marking Scheme
Activities | Homework | Quiz | Midterm | Final exam |
Percentages | 10% | 20% | 30% | 40% |
