Department of Physics

PHY 420: Introduction to Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics

Course Information

Please note that exact details of the course can vary

Professor:  Dr. Alexander Meyerovich

Semester: Fall, every year
Credits: 3
Prerequisites:Prior completion of PHY 205 and MTH 243 (or equivalent)

Catalog Description:Emphasis on laws of thermodynamics and properties of thermodynamic systems, kinetic theory of gases, molecular velocity distributions, transport phenomena, Maxwell-Boltzmann statistics

Course Goals & Outcomes

Upon completion, successful students will be able to:

• Understand important topics of thermodynamics and statistical physics
• Develop critical thinking and appropriate problem solving skills
• Solve quantitative problems pertaining to the course
• Apply concepts learned in lecture to real-life problems and situations

Course Description

This course meets 2 times per week for lectures. Topics covered in this course include:

• Energy in thermal physics; work and heat
• Energy conservation law and the first law of thermodynamics
• Entropy and the second law of thermodynamics
• The Einstein model of a solid
• The ideal gas
• Temperature
• Paramagnetism
• Mechanical equilibrium and pressure
• Diffusive equilibrium and chemical potential
• Engines and refrigerators
• Free energy and chemical thermodynamics
• Boltzmann-Maxwell statistics
• Partition function
• Elements of quantum statistics
• Bose-Einstein and Fermi-Dirac distributions

Contact Information:  Dr. Alexander Meyerovich

LEC: (3 crs.) Emphasis on laws of thermodynamics and properties of thermodynamic systems, kinetic theory of gases, molecular velocity distributions, transport phenomena, Maxwell-Boltzmann statistics. (Lec. 3) Pre: PHY 205 and MTH 243.