DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
General Syllabus
Physics 451
Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics
Designation:
Undergraduate
Catalog description:
45100: Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics
Temperature; equation of state; work, heat and the First Law; irreversibility, entropy
and the Second Law; introduction to kinetic theory and statistical mechanics; lowtemperature
physics; the Third Law. 3 HR./Wk.; 3 CR.
Prerequisites:
Physics 35100 and 35300; coreq. Math 39100 (required for all Physics majors).
Textbook:
There is no prescribed textbook for this course. The following lecture notes
will be the primary material. They are available as open source material here.
(If this does not work, cut and paste the following URL on to your browser:
http://academicworks.cuny.edu/cc_oers/9/ )
A recommended book for problems is: D.V. Schroeder, An Introduction to Thermal
Physics, Addison-Wesley, Edition 1, Year Published: 1999; ISBN 978-0201380279
Course Objectives:
After successfully completing this course students should be able to
1. Understand thermal equilibrium
2. Understand the role of heat and work in thermal physics
3. Apply the First Law of Thermodynamics to simple physical systems such as the
ideal gas, heat engines and refrigerators
4. Be familiar with the various heat capacities and be able to utilize them analyzing
physical problems
5. Understand the Second Law of Thermodynamics and be able to apply it to simple
physical systems
6. Understand the concept of entropy and to be able to compute the entropy for simple
physical systems
7. Understand the Carnot cycle and to be able to compute the efficiency of Carnot
engines
8. Understand mechanical, diffusive and chemical equilibrium
9. Understand free energy and be able to apply thermodynamic potentials to simple
physical problems
10. Understand the thermodynamics of phase transformations
11. Understand and apply Boltzmann statistics
12. Understand theMaxwell velocity distribution for molecules in an ideal gas
13. Compute partition functions for simple physical systems and to obtain the thermodynamic
potentials from it
14. Understand the basics of quantum statistics, Bose-Einstein and Fermi-Dirac distributions
15. Understand quantum statistical mechanics in relation to the blackbody radiation
spectrum
16. Understand the rudiments of the Bose-Einstein condensation
17. Understand the Debye theory of the specific heat of solids
18. Understand quantum statistical mechanics in relation to the Fermi gas, as applied
to electrons in a metal and white dwarfs
Topics covered:
The zeroth law of thermodynamics; equation of state; the first law; adiabatic and
isothermal processes; barometric formula, speed of sound; the Carnot cycle; the second
law; consequences of the second law; absolute temperature and entropy; thermodynamic
engines; the third law; thermodynamic potentials; equilibrium; phase transitions;
thermodynamic processes; the binomial distribution; Maxwell-Boltzmann statistics;
Maxwell distribution for velocities; Gibbsian ensembles; equation of state again;
entropy and information; osmotic pressure; chemical equilibrium; ionization equilibrium;
Bose-Einstein and Fermi-Dirac distributions; black body radiation; Bose-Einstein
condensation; Debye theory of specific heats; electrons in a metal; white dwarf stars.
Class schedule:
Two 75 minute classes
Relationship of course to program outcomes:
a. Students will be able to synthesize and apply their knowledge of physics and mathematics
to solve physics-related problems in a broad range of fields in classical and modern
physics, including mechanics, electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics and statistical
physics, optics, quantum mechanics, and experimental physics.
c. Students will be able to communicate their knowledge effectively and in a professional
manner, in both oral and written forms.
d. Students will be able to work cooperatively with other students and with faculty.
f. Students will be able to use computers effectively for a variety of tasks, including
data analysis, instructional-technology (IT) assisted presentations, report or manuscript
preparation, access to online information sources, etc.
Assessment Tools:
1. Attendance
2. Homework assignments
3. Midtermexamination
4. Class participation
5. Results of Final Exam
Person who prepared this description and date of preparation:
V. Parameswaran Nair (
vpnair@ccny.cuny.edu
); January 17, 2022
Additional remarks for Spring 2022, applicable to PHY 451 and U4100:
Instructor: V.P. NAIR
Office hours: Mondays 11:00 AM to 12:00 noon
Wednesdays 11:00 AM to 12 noon
Room MR309 B
Further info at: http://nair.ccny.cuny.edu
Class Schedule: 12:30 PM to 1:45 PM,Mondays &Wednesdays
Room MS-408
Grading:
There will be one midterm examination and a final examination. They will contribute
to your final grade with weights of approximately 30% and 50%, respectively. These will
be closed book exams, but I will give you a formula sheet with all the formulae which I
consider will be useful for the exam.
Homework:
There will be homework assignments, one set for each week. They will be given out in
class, and will also be listed on my website. These will be graded, and they do contribute
to your final grade with a weight of 20%. It is very important (for you) that you do these
problems. It has almost always been true that students who do not work out the problems
find the exams difficult and end up getting a low grade for the course. There will be
additional assignments for theMaster’s level students taking U4100.
Attendance:
Regular attendance is very important. If you are absent for an exam, your grade for that
exam will be zero. There will be no make-up exams, except in dire medical emergencies,
supported by a doctor's certi cate.
Topics to be covered:
These are given by the chapters of the book. I will add on some material on kinetic theory
for the U4100 students. While the material is from the book or my lecture notes,
there will be changes and variations in my presentation. For this reason, attendance is
important and you should keep good class notes. Working out problems will be part of the
course, integrated into the lectures. Additional problem sessions will be scheduled when
appropriate.
Last Updated: 02/01/2022 10:09