Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics

Catalog description

In this course the rules of mechanics are applied to systems with large numbers of particles using calculus and probabilistic techniques. Connections between previously-studied thermodynamic concepts are drawn. Particular areas of coverage include elementary kinetic theory; the First and Second Laws of thermodynamics; statistical interpretations of entropy; state variables, the fundamental thermodynamic relationship, and Maxwell relations; Einstein solids and simple interacting systems; partition functions; Boltzmann and Gibbs factors; and Fermi-Dirac and Bose-Einstein quantum systems. Additional topics may include Carnot cycles, free energies, degenerate Fermi gases, and blackbody radiation. Prerequisite: Prerequisite: PHY 306 ; MTH 310 . Students cannot earn credit in both PHY 343 and PHY 345 . Offered Spring.