Thermal and Statistical Physics (3)

UM-StL Physics 341 - Fall '95

Introduction to statistical mechanics, laws of thermodynamics, kinetic theory.

For information on the upcoming class, check here.

Questions this course might help you answer...

  • How many "ways to wiggle" per molecule does water evidence at room temperature?
  • Where might one observe the "herd-behavior" of bosons sharing a single ground state?
  • In what way do plants act as heat engines, and how efficient are they in practice?
  • What is the equation of state for a gas containing only one atom?
  • What keeps small white dwarves from shrinking past a certain point?
  • Which expansion requires more energy: adiabatic, isothermal, or isobaric?
  • How can spin-temperatures approach absolute zero from the negative direction?
  • How to get mass action, equipartition, & the equation of state from a single function!
  • Why and how might one convert between Kelvins, and eV/nat of uncertainty?
  • How an invention might increase the winter heat from a natural gas flame 8-fold?
  • What's the heat capacity of iron, in bits of uncertainty per two-fold increase in energy?
  • How can Lagrange multipliers help you consider whatever you know and don't know?
  • Why do the "several electron-volt" electrons in metals really not burn your fingers?!
  • As an information engine, what is the upper limit on your productivity in bytes/day?
  • How might statistical inference (and entropy) apply elsewhere, to images for example?

    Other resources of possible interest:

  • Browser-interactive solver for constant acceleration problems.
  • A question involving relativistic acceleration which contains what you need to solve it.
  • Try focussing a high-res electron microscope image on-line!
  • Does making a hotdog require 50 nanoseconds or more of life's power stream?
  • Is statistical physics a dead subject, or is there another paradigm change afoot?
  • In preparation: assignment list, example tests, course calendar, homework/exam solutions...
  • What other resources might help you? E-mail suggestions to philf@newton.umsl.edu.
  • At UM-StLouis see also: a1toc, cme, i-fzx, phys&astr, programs, stei-lab, & wuzzlers.
  • Some current and previous courses: p111, p112, p231, p341, p400.
  • Cite/Link: http://newton.umsl.edu/~philf/p341f95s.html
  • This release dated 15 Sep 1996 (Copyright by Phil Fraundorf 1988-1996)

    Assumed Background:

    Prerequisite:

  • Math 180: Analytic Geometry and Calculus III (5)
  • Physics 231: Introduction to Modern Physics (3)

    Specifics:

    Prof: Phil Fraundorf 516-5933; Benton Hall 421 (office)
    Office Hours: after class and by appointment
    Text: Statistical Mechanics & Thermodynamics by Garrod (Oxford, 1995)
    Lectures: MW 2-3:15pm Room B446

    Approximate Distribution for Grade:

  • (1) Collected HomeWork / Quizzes - 20%
  • (3) Three 1-Hour Exams - 50%
  • (3) Comprehensive Final Exam - 30%

    Some Suggested Supplementary Reading

    on subjects considered in this course...

  • Keith Stowe, Intro to Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics (Wiley, 1984).
  • Kittel & Kroemer, Thermal Physics (WH Freeman, 1980).
  • George Arfken, Mathematical Methods for Physicists (Academic Press, 1970 & later)

    on stuff of more general interest...

  • Galileo Galilei - Dialog Concerning the Two Chief World Systems (1632, translated by Stillman Drake, UC Press, 1962)
  • Thomas Kuhn, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, 2nd edition (U. of Chicago Press, Chicago IL, 1970)
  • Jearl Walker - The Flying Circus of Physics (Wiley 1977)
  • Joel A. Barker, The Business of Paradigms (ILI Press, Lake Elmo MN, 1985)
  • R. P. Feynman - "Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!" (Bantam 1986)
  • K. Eric Drexler, Engines of Creation (Anchor Doubleday, New York NY, 1986)
  • Stephen W. Hawking - A Brief History of Time
    •