Physics 303
Spring 2005
Contents
Course
info and grading policy
Course Info
Thermal and Statistical
Physics (PHYS 303)
PHYS 107
MWF 12:00 - 12:50
PM
Instructor: Dr. Michael Hayden TA: Ms. Alejandra Valencia
Email: hayden@umbc.edu avalen1@umbc.edu
Office/Phone: PHYS 409 / 455-3199 PHYS 008
/455-1932
Office Hours: drop by anytime, Thurs 1000
-1200
or make an appt
Overview
The purpose of this course is to introduce thermal and
statistical physics from a formal perspective and to apply the theory to real
problems. The course will build on
the results of PHYS 122. This course will serve as adequate
preparation for graduate study in statistical mechanics.
Academic Integrity
By enrolling in this course, each student assumes the
responsibilities of an active participant in UMBC's scholarly community in
which everyone's academic work and behavior are held to the highest standards
of honesty. Cheating, fabrication, plagiarism, and helping others to commit
these acts are all forms of academic dishonesty, and they are wrong. Academic misconduct could result in
disciplinary action that may include, but is not limited to, suspension or
dismissal. To read the full
Student Academic Conduct Policy, consult the UMBC Student Handbook, the Faculty
Handbook, or the UMBC Policies section of the UMBC Directory.
Texts
An
Introduction to Thermal Physics, by Daniel Schroeder. We
will follow this text and do homework problems from this text. There is a website associated with this text.
Classical
and Statistical Thermodynamics, Ashley H. Carter. Recommended reference.
Statistical
and Thermal Physics,
by F. Reif. Recommended reference.
Methods
It will be assumed that you have read the assigned
material in the book before coming to class.
This is a very useful way for you to learn the material since you will
be familiar with it when you hear it during the lecture and will be able to ask
questions about things you didn’t understand in the reading. I also strongly suggest that you fill
in the missing steps to all the derivations performed on the board and in the
book. Only by doing so will you
gain a true understanding of the material. Good notes will be invaluable in this regard.
In order to assist you in your quest to learn thermal
and statistical physics, we will have numerous homework problems, quizzes,
tests, papers, and tutorial sessions in addition to classroom lectures.
Strategies for Success
Read every word in the book before class.
Do all the
assigned homework.
Work additional
problems as time permits.
Come
to class!
Grading
I consider homework to be extremely important. You are encouraged to work in
groups. All homework must be completed
and turned in by the start of class on the day it is due (generally 7
days after it is assigned). Late
homework will not be accepted for any reason.
Solutions will be posted on this website when the homework is handed
in. Please read the solutions;
they will assist you in your overall understanding of the course. If you do not get the right
answer, you will still get some credit provided you make a substantial effort
on the problem.
To be successful in this course, your goals should be
to: remember the information presented in the lectures and text; gain an
understanding of the underlying physics; be able to apply that
knowledge and understanding to the solution of problems; and be able to explain
the physical reasons for the phenomena we will study. To support these goals, the tests will be designed to probe
your understanding of the basic concepts through essay questions and specific
theoretical/numerical problems.
There will be four exams this semester:
(tentatively) Friday Feb 25, Friday March 18, Wednesday
April 20, and
Friday May 13.
The Final will be given from 10:30-12:30
AM on Friday May 20.
There will be no make-up
exams.
Your grade will be computed as
follows:
Homework and reading quizzes (lowest quiz dropped) 20%
4 Exams 60%
(15% for each)
Final 20%
The following table is a rough
estimate of the grading scale.
A > 87%
B 75-87%
C 55-74%
Course Schedule
Spring
2005
|
Week of: |
Subject |
Reading |
Homework |
|
Jan 31 |
Intro, Defns, Differentials, 1st Law |
Chap. 1 (skip Sec. 1.7) |
Set #1: 1.7b; 1.8 (a),(c);
1.9; 1.10; 1.12; 1.15; 1.16 (for part (d) do Ogden and Everest only) |
|
Feb 7 |
1st Law of Thermo; Applications |
Chap. 1 (skip Sec. 1.7) |
Set #2: 1.22; 1.31; 1.34;
1.36; 1.37; 1.45; 1.46; plus handout problems |
|
Feb 14 |
More 1st Law; Intro to 2nd Law |
Chap. 4 (skip Sec. 4.3) |
Set #3: 1.47; 1.53-1.55; 2.2;
2.3 |
|
Feb 21 |
Entropy and the 2nd Law |
Chap. 2 (all the rest) |
Set #4: 4.1; 4.2 (a); 4.5;
4.6; 4.21 |
|
EXAM #1 |
Friday Feb 25 |
|
Exam covers everything through
HW set #3 (Chapters 1-2) |
|
Feb 28 |
More 2nd Law and Counting |
Chap. 2, 3 |
Set #5: 2.5 (c, f, g);
2.10-11; 2.16-18; 2.21; 2.24; |
|
Mar 7 |
Thermal, Mechanical, Diffusive Eq. |
Chap. 2, 3 |
Set #6: handout problem;
2.26; 2.31; 2.37; 2.38; 2.42 (a), (c), (d); 3.5; 3.7 |
|
Mar 14 |
Thermodynamic Potentials |
Chap. 5 (skip Miscible Mixtures and Eutectics) |
Set #7: 3.10; 3.16; 3.25;
3.32; 3.33 |
|
EXAM #2 |
Friday March 18 |
|
Exam covers everything through
HW set #6 (Chapters 1-4) |
|
Mar 21 |
Spring Break |
|
|
|
Mar 28 |
Free energy and Phase
Equilibria |
Chap. 5 |
Set #8: 5.5; 5.6; 5.8; 5.12;
5.14; 5.20; 5.23; 5.29; 5.32; 5.39 |
|
Apr 4 |
Kinetic Theory; Classical Stat Mech. |
Chap. 6 |
Set #9: 5.75; 5.77; 5.81;
5.82; 5.84; 5.91; 5.92 |
|
Apr 11 |
Boltzmann factor, Partition function |
Chap. 6 |
Set #10: 1.17; 6.3; 6.5;
6.10; 6.12; 6.17; 6.20; B.2; B.3; B.4; B.5 |
|
Apr 18 |
Quantum Stat Mech, Gibbs factors |
Chap. 7 |
Set #11: B.6; B.7; B.8; 6.37;
6.39; 6.44; 6.45; 6.47; 6.48; 6.51 |
|
EXAM #3 |
Wednesday April 20 |
|
Exam covers everything through
HW set #9 (Chapters 1-5) |
|
Apr 25 |
Fermi-Dirac |
Chap. 7 |
Set #12: 7.2; 7.3; 7.8; 7.10;
7.11; 7.13; 7.19; 7.20; 7.25 |
|
May 2 |
Blackbodies, Diatomic gas |
Chap. 7 |
Set #13: 7.28; 7.29; 7.31;
7.37; 7.38; 7.39; 7.42; 7.43; 7.45 |
|
May 9 |
Solids |
Chap. 7 (skip Sec. 7.6) |
|
|
EXAM #4 |
Friday May 13 |
|
Exam covers everything through
HW set #12; mostly on Chapters 6 and 7. |
|
May 16 |
Review |
|
|
|
FINAL |
Friday May 20 at 10:30 am |
|
Be there or be square! |
Contact Information
Instructor: Dr. Michael Hayden (hayden@umbc.edu)
Office: PH
409 (410)
455-3199
Office Hours: anytime or by appointment
TA: Ms. Alejandra Valencia (avalen1@umbc.edu)
Office: PHYS 008
Office Hours: Thurs 1000 - 1200
Homework
solutions
HW#1 HW#2 HW#3 HW#4 HW#5 HW#6 HW#7
HW#8 HW#9 HW#10 HW#11 HW#12 HW#13 HW#14
Quiz solutions
Quiz#1 Quiz#2 Quiz#3 Quiz#4 Quiz#5 Quiz#6 Quiz#7
Exam solutions
Grade sheet
Other physics links