Thermodynamics
Spring 2015
Physics 343
Dr. Adam Tomei Whitten
Course Information
Lecture:
Text:
Text Website:
Website:
MWF 8:00-8:55 in PEngl 319
Statistical and Thermal Physics with Computer Applications
Harvey Gould and Jan Tobochnik, ISBN: 978-0-691-13744-5
hhtp://www.compadre.org/STP/
http://www.physics.csbsju.edu/∼awhitten/phys343.html
Other popular undergraduate textbooks on thermodynamics include Enrico Fermi’s Thermodynamics and Daniel V. Schroeder’s An Introduction to Thermal Physics.
Introduction
Thermal Physics deals with systems of large numbers of particles (∼ 1023 ) in which the motion
of the individual particles is assumed to be random. The laws of probability can then be used to
determine the bulk behavior of the system. Some bulk properties of the system do not really depend
on the microscopic details of atomic physics. Thermodynamics is the study of these properties
and the principles describing them. Thermodynamics was developed phenomenologically, meaning
that mathematical descriptions of observed phenomena were developed without considering the
fundamental physical laws governing the detailed interactions among the individual particles.
Most textbooks introduce Kinetic Theory early on to derive the thermodynamic equations. Kinetic
Theory models a gas by (1) assuming that molecules comprising the gas do not interact with one
another and (2) that the energy and momentum of a molecule is conserved when it collides with
the walls of an enclosing container. Our textbook does not take this approach. Instead we will
concentrate on the phenomenological approach for the first half of the course and then look at
probability and the fundamentals of statistical mechanics for the second half of the course. Taking
into account the quantum nature of the particles and the laws of statistics that connect them to
the system will you give you a deeper understanding of why the principles of thermodynamics have
their particular form.
Those of you that continue on with Phys 344 will apply the methods of statistical mechanics to
magnetic systems, systems of bosons and fermions, and chemical potential and phase equilibria.
About the Textbook and Reading Preparation for Class
The chapter readings of the textbook present the theoretical framework required to delve into the
more interesting Physics applications which are introduced as examples and problems within the
readings. Therefore, to make the most effective use of class time, you must read the material
beforehand. Doing this will allow you and your fellow students to jump straight into the core
Physics content which will better prepare you for the homework and tests.
Some of the problems in the textbook make use of java simulations. There is a launcher package
available at the text website. Click on the Thermal and Statistical Physics link in the center
column and then download the STP Launcher Package (osp stp.jar). This can be opened on
Windows computers by double-clicking the file name. On Linux computers, use the command line
to navigate to the folder where the file is saved and then type in java -jar osp stp.jar. Each
individual simulation can then be run by double-clicking on the simulation name in the navigation
pane. Exception: the simulation for Chapter 1 Problem 4 needs to be downloaded separately.
It is simulation 4a in the Chapter 1 Simulations folder on the companion website and is called
Lennard-Jones 2D Fluid MD.
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Course Objectives
After completing this course students will be able to:
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explain the difference between microscopic and macroscopic behavior of systems of particles.
explain the significance of each term in the Lennard-Jones potential.
explain what is meant by equilibrium in terms of time-reversal, fluctuations, and history.
explain the nature of pressure and temperature.
explain the fundamental need for a statistical approach.
describe ideal classical and quantum gas models.
describe the classical systems of interacting particles models.
describe the Ising model.
describe what is meant by thermodynamic equilibrium.
make conversions to Fahrenheit, Celsius, and centigrade temperature scales.
understand the limits of the ideal gas equation and how they are addressed by other models.
identify a thermodynamic process as quasistatic, irreversible, reversible, adiabatic, isochoric,
isobaric, or isothermal.
calculate the work done on a system and its resultant change in internal energy.
apply the First Law of Thermodynamics to real world problems.
explain the difference between extensive and intensive quantities.
calculate heat capacities and enthalpies.
apply the ideal gas equation to real world problems.
explain the implications of the Second Law of Thermodynamics.
analyze heat engines and refrigerators.
use the thermodynamic identity and partial derivatives to obtain thermodynamic properties.
derive thermodynamic identities.
understand the relationships between internal energy, enthalpy, Helmholtz free energy, and
Gibbs free energy.
derive Maxwell relations.
calculate probabilities for finding a system in a particular state.
work with binomial, Gaussian, Boltzmann, Poisson, and exponential distributions.
apply combinatorics to determine multiplicities of two-state systems, Einstein solids, ideal
gases, and very large interacting systems in different temperature limits.
use the microcanonical, canonical, and grand canonical ensembles to calculate thermodynamic
properties.
connect definitions of thermodynamic properties based on macroscopic variables to definitions
based on microscopic variables.
calculate changes in thermodynamic properties for real world processes.
connect the concepts of entropy and multiplicity to understand the Second Law of Thermodynamics.
Homework
Working problems is essential to your development of an understanding of the material. They will
give you the vital practice needed to help you perform well on the exams. It is very important
for you to try to complete the problems independently before conferring with your colleagues or
accessing internet resources. It is relatively easy to read and understand someone else’s approach to
the solution – it is just as easy to forget it by the time of the exam. Working the solution yourself
will help you retain the concepts and methods used. See the schedule for assigned homework
problems – they are due at the beginning of the next class period.
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Grading
Your grade will be based on a weighted average of homework, a midterm exam, and a final exam
as follows:
Grading Scale
Item and Weight
A 93-100
C 73-77
Homework
20%
AB 88-92
CD 68-72
Midterm Exam 40%
B
83-87
D 60-67
Final Exam
40%
BC 78-82
F
0-59
Schedule
Note: Reading should be completed before class on the indicated date. Homework is due at the
beginning of the next class period (e.g., problems 4, 15, 17, 19 from chapter 1 are due Jan. 14).
Date
1/12
1/14
1/16
1/19
1/21
1/23
1/26
1/28
1/30
2/2
2/4
2/6
2/9
2/11
2/13
2/16
2/18
2/20
2/23
2/25
2/27
Reading
Preface (p. xi-xv),
1.1-1.4 (p. 1-15)
1.5-1.13 (p. 15-27)
Topic
Homework
Microstates, Macrostates, and
1: 4, 15, 17, 19
Equilibrium
Pressure, Temperature, Models of
1: 8-10, 16, 18, 22,
Matter, Equilibrium
24, 25
2.1-2.6 (p. 32-40)
Equilibrium Temperature and Pressure,
2: 4, 34, 35, 41, 45
Thermodynamic Processes
2.7-2.10 (p. 40-51)
Work, Energy, 1st Law, Heat Capacity,
2: 42, 44, 47, 49
and Enthalpy
2.11-2.13 (p.51-59)
Quasistatic Adiabatic Processes, 2nd
2: 48, 50-53
Law, Thermodynamic Temperature
2.14-2.17 (p. 60-76)
Heat Engines, Entropy, Thermodynamic 2: 56, 57, 59, 60, 63
Pressure
2.18-2.20 (p. 76-79)
Fundamental Thermodynamic Relation,
2: 54, 55, 58, 61, 62
rd
3 Law
2.21-2.22 (p. 79-89)
Free Energies and Thermodynamic
2: 64-66, 68
Derivatives
2.23 (p. 90-93)
Applications to Irreversible Processes
2: 30
Midterm Exam on Thermodynamics
3.1-3.3 (p. 111-121)
Probability and Mean Values
3: 54-59, 78, 84
3.4 (p. 121-133)
Interpreting Probability and Conditional 3: 19, 20, 25, 26
Probability
3.5 (p. 134-147)
Binomial Distribution
3: 60, 61, 64, 69-71
3.6-3.9 (p. 147-159)
Continuous Probability Distributions
3: 47, 48, 72, 76
and the Central Limit Theorem
3.10-3.11 (p.
Random Multiplicative Processes and
3: 50, 51, 53, 77
159-167)
Mathematical Tools
4.1-4.2 (p. 180-192)
Statistical Mechanics Applied to
4: 35, 37-40
Einstein Solids
4.3-4.4 (p. 192-203)
Counting Microstates and the
4: 13-16, 44
Semiclassical Limit
4.5-4.6 (p. 203-216)
Microcanonical and Canonical
4: 20, 22, 42, 45, 50
Ensembles
4.7-4.11 (p. 216-227) Connecting Statistical Mechanics to
4: 32, 47-52
Thermodynamics
4.12-4.14 (p.
Grand Canonical Ensemble, Entropy,
4: 53-54
227-233)
and Fluctuations
Final Exam on Thermodynamics, Probability, and Ensembles
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