PX2231: Thermal and Statistical Physics

School Cardiff School of Physics & Astronomy
Department Code PHYSX
Module Code PX2231
External Subject Code 100425
Number of Credits 20
Level L5
Language of Delivery English
Module Leader PROFESSOR John Macdonald
Semester Spring Semester
Academic Year 2013/4

Outline Description of Module

To provide an understanding of the laws and concepts of thermodynamics and their applications.

To introduce the kinetic theory of gases.

To introduce the quantum mechanics of radiation and develop the theory of black-body radiation.

On completion of the module a student should be able to

Describe the basis and importance of the first and second laws of thermodynamics.

Discuss the concept of entropy and identify its physical consequences.

Apply the laws of thermodynamics to simple physical systems.

Apply the kinetic theory to solve problems involving gases.

Demonstrate an understanding of the quantum mechanics of radiation and the origin of the black-body radiation spectrum.

How the module will be delivered

Lectures 33 x 1 hr, examples classes 11 x 1hr, marked exercises.

Skills that will be practised and developed

Mathematics.  Problem solving.  Investigative skills.  Analytical skills.

How the module will be assessed

Examination 80%.  Coursework 20%.  [Examination duration: 3 hours].

Assessment Breakdown

Type % Title Duration(hrs)
Exam - Spring Semester 80 Thermal And Statistical Physics 3
Written Assessment 20 Thermal And Statistical Physics N/A

Syllabus content

The laws of thermodynamics.  Temperature.  Thermometers.

Heat.  Heat transfer.  The first law.  Reversible and irreversible changes of state.  Ideal gases.

Heat capacity.  Enthalpy.

State variable.  Exact and inexact differentials.  Maxwell’s relations.  Adiabatic changes of state.

Kinetic theory.  Mean-free path.

Second law of thermodynamics.  Entropy.

Heat engines.  Carnot cycle.

Entropy and efficiency of heat exchange processes.

Entropy.

Helmholtz and Gibbs free energy.  Internal energy.

Introduction to statistical mechanics and distribution functions (M-B, F-D and B-E).      Microstates, macrostates, measure of disorder,  entropy, micro-canonical ensemble,

Partition function, Canonical ensemble, Equation of state.

Applications.  Connection with thermodynamics.

Classical gas, Boltzmann distribution, Maxwell velocity distribution.

Indistinguishable particles, FD and BE statistics.

Basis for Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution.

M-D statistics, molecular energies in an ideal gas.

Equipartition of energy.  Degrees of freedom.

Rayleigh-Jeans and Planck theory of blackbody radiation and Wien displacement law.

Specific heat of solids (Einstein and Debye).

Free electron gases.

Applications to astronomy

Essential Reading and Resource List

Principles of Physics (Extended Version), Halliday, Resnick and Walker (Wiley).

Thermal Physics, M Sprackling (Macmillan).

An Introduction to Thermal Physics, C J Adkins (Cambridge University Press) (out of print, but copies in the library).


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