Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics

Catalog description

Thermodynamic systems and variables; the laws of thermodynamics. Thermodynamic potentials and applications, ideal and real gas relations; changes of phase, introduction to probability theory; elementary kinetic theory of gases; micro and macro-states of simple quantum-mechanical systems; Fermi-Dirac, Bose-Einstein, and Maxwell-Boltzmann statistics. Prerequisite(s) or corequisite(s): A PHY 440. Prerequisite(s): A PHY 235 with a grade of C or better, A PHY 250 with a grade of C or better or permission of Department Chair. Offered spring semester only.