Syllabus for Thermal Physics
PHYS3102
Current Lecturer
Prof. Zexin ZHANG Email: zhangzx@suda.edu.cn
Course Time
3rd Semester
Lectures: 3 sessions/week, 50 min/session. 18 weeks.
Course Description
Thermal Physics is a branch of physics that deals with heat, work, and energy possessed by matter. The course aims to provide students with: (1) concepts of thermodynamics and basic statistical physics, (2) methods of studying thermodynamic properties from both macroscopic thermodynamics laws and microscopic kinetic theories, (3) link between the microscopic properties of individual atoms/molecules and the macroscopic properties of system formed from the atoms/molecules; (4) applications of thermodynamics concepts to a variety of systems such as gases, engines and even human body; (5) Mathematical derivations the fundamental thermodynamic relations. The course is a prerequisite to Statistical Physics, which applies statistical methods to explain and predict the thermodynamic properties of a system.
Prerequisites
General Physics I (PHYS1025); Calculus (00071012/13); Probability (00071005)
Textbooks
S. J. Blundell and K. M. Blundell, Concepts in Thermal Physics, 2nd edition, Oxford University Press, 2009 (chapter 1 - 18).
H. D Young and R. A. Freedman, Sear and Zemansky's University Physics with Modern Physics, 12th Edition, Pearson Education, 2008 (chapter 17 - 20).
Main Contents
Week | Teaching Contents | Sessions | Objectives |
1 | The zeroth law of thermodynamics | 3 | Introduction to the course, Basic thermal physics concepts, Temperature and thermal equilibrium |
2 | Heat, phase changes, and calorimetry | 3 | Heat, Heat capacity, Latent heat and Calorimetry |
3 | Equation of state for ideal gas | 3 | Equation of state, Idea gas equation, Dalton's law of partial pressures for gas mixtures |
4 | Pressure and pressure equation | 3 | Microscopic interpretation of pressure; Derivation of ideal gas pressure |
5 | Kinetic-molecular model of an ideal gas | 3 | Microscopic explanation of temperature, Kinetic energy, Non-ideal gas and van der Waals equation |
6 | Molecular speed distribution | 3 | Basic probability theory, Speed distribution of gas molecules; Derivation; Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution |
7 | Microscopic view of heat capacity | 3 | Equal partition of energy, Degrees of freedom |
8 | Transportations of gases | 3 | Mean free path; Microscopic model of transportations |
9 | Mid-term exam | 3 | Review and exam |
10 | The first law of thermodynamics | 3 | Heat, Work, Internal energy, Path |
11 | Thermodynamics of ideal gases | 3 | Molar heat capacity Cv and Cp, Mayer equation |
12 | Types of thermodynamics processes | 3 | Important thermodynamic process: isothermal, isobaric, isochoric, adiabatic |
13 | Heat engine and refrigerator | 3 | Otto, Diesel and Carnot cycles; engine efficiency |
14 | The second law thermodynamics and Entropy | 3 | Reversibility; Statements of the second law; microscopic states and entropy |
15 | The Maxwell's relations and the third law of thermodynamics. | 3 | Thermodynamic functions; The most common Maxwell relations; The third law |
16 | Phase transition and Clausius–Clapeyron equation | 3 | Types of phase transitions, Phase equilibrium, Clausius–Clapeyron equation |
17 | Review | 3 | Review all the lecture materials |
18 | Final exam | 3 | Final exam |
Marking Scheme:
Homework | Quiz | Midterm | Final exam |
10% | 10% | 20% | 60% |
