PHYS 3300 Thermal and Statistical Physics

Study of thermal and statistical physics. Topics include heat and work, thermodynamic potentials, ideal gases, statistical ensembles, Maxwell-Boltzmann statistics, partition functions, and black-body radiation.

Credits

3

Prerequisite

PHYS 2110 and PHYS 2120

Typically Offered

Demorest Campus: odd spring day

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon the completion of this course, students will be able to demonstrate the following outcome-based learning skills:

1. Understand the equations of basic macro-thermodynamics.
2. Apply the equations and concepts of statistics to the understanding of thermodynamic processes.
3. Solve problems in thermodynamics both from a statistical and a macro point of view.
4. Understand the concepts of entropy and enthalpy as compared from a macroscopic and a microscopic point of view.
5. Expand the basic knowledge of statistics by learning of Maxwell-Boltzmann statistics, partition functions, and the application of these to black body radiation.