Thermal Physics

PHYS 320 - Call No. 5143, Room HSCI-107, Fall 2012 Instructor: Lecture: Office Hours: Web page: Dr. Thomas Gredig, tgredig@csulb.edu, 562-985-4922, office HSCI-272D TuTh 2:00 3:15 pm M 9:45 10:45am, Th 3:30 - 4:30 in HSCI-102 or 272d, and/or by appointment http://beachboard.csulb.edu (verify that your email address is current)

Textbook:
Reading:

Daniel V. Schroeder, Thermal Physics, details on Beachboard. Concepts in Thermal Physics, S. Blundell and K. Blundell Fundamentals of Statistical and Thermal Physics, F. Reif Thermal Physics, C. Kittel and H. Kroemer Elementary Statistical Physics, C. Kittel Acquire conceptual understanding of thermal physics, statistical physics Develop a general problem solving strategy Relate the acquired physics concepts to other topics Use simple computer programs to simulate statistical systems Prepare you for the Physics GRE

Class Goals:

Homework:

Individual homework is due every Tuesday (by 2pm) in class. The homework is posted on Beachboard. If it requires electronic submission, please use the dropbox folder on Beachboard. Homework: 20% Midterms: 20% each Quizzes: Final Exam: 10% 30%

Grading:

Scale: A (88%-100%), B (76%-87%), C (64%-75%), D (52%-63%), F (0-51%)

(According to: http://www.csulb.edu/divisions/aa/catalog/2010-2011/academic_information/grading_procedures.html)

Absences:

I abide by University policies on absences. University approved absences with appropriate documentation entitle you to a make-up exam. No make-ups for quizzes are possible without University approved documentation. The two midterms will test your conceptual understanding of the covered material using problem solving strategies that start from fundamental principles. Same as midterm, but comprehensive. Quizzes that cover the reading assignments are given at the class beginning. Important: please read the material BEFORE you come to class. See CNSM withdrawal policy posted on the Beachboard and posted on the bulletin board in HSCI-220. You are expected to memorize basic equations; for the midterm and final exam, no notes are allowed, but you can write equations on the white-board before the exam, if you think they are important.

Midterms: Final Exam: Quizzes:

Withdrawal: Equations:

Tentative Schedule and Reading Assignments: DATE Aug 28 Aug 30 Sep 4 Sep 6 Sep 11 Sep 13 Sep 18 Sep 20 Sep 25 Sep 27 Oct 2 Oct 5 Oct 9 Oct 11 Oct 16 Oct 18 Oct 23 Oct 25 Oct 30 Nov 1 Nov 6 Nov 8 Nov 15 Nov 20 Thanksgiving Nov 27 Nov 29 Dec 4 Dec 6 Dec 13
CHAPTER READING

Ch. 1 Ch. 2 Ch. 3 1.1 1.6 2.1 2.3 2.4 2.6 3.1, 3.2 3.3, 3.4 3.5, 3.6

DESCRIPTION Ideal Gas, Equipartition Theorem Heat, Work, Latent Heat, Heat Capacity Entropy, II. Law TD Statistical Physics Paramagnetism Chemical Potential Chemical Potential Exam Review Heat Engines, Carnot Cycle Refrigerators Free energy Phase Transformations Van der Waals gas Boltzmann factor, average values Equipartition Theorem (derived) Partition functions Boltzmann statistics, Ideal Gas, review Exam Review, Gibbs Paradox Grand Partition Function Fermions, Bosons Blackbody Radiation, Debye Theory Bose-Einstein Condensation Partition Function Ising Model of Ferromagnet Monte Carlo Simulations 12:30pm 2:30pm, Thursday

Exam 1 Ch. 4 Ch. 5 4.1, 4.2 4.3, 4.4 5.1 5.2 5.3 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 - 7.5 7.6 8.1 8.2 Review Final Exam

Ch. 6

Exam 2 Ch. 7

Ch. 7 Ch. 8