Thermal Physics (PY 413)
PROF. T. SCHAEFER
Physics 413 (Thermal Physics) provides an introduction to
thermodynamics and statistical mechanics intended for undergraduate
students in physics or engineering.
- Lecture:
MWF 9:10-10:00, rm204
Instructor: T. Schaefer, Office BOM-210
email: Thomas_Schaefer[at]ncsu.edu
Office hours: Mo. 1:00-3:00 and by appointment.
- Homework:
Most mondays a set of homework problems
will be assigned. (You can also check the website.) The homework
is due monday the following week.
- Exams
There will be one midterm exam and a final.
- Grade
Your final grade will be determined by weighting the various
portions of the course as follows:
Midterm: 20%, Final: 40%, Homework: 40%
- Textbook
Daniel V. Schroeder, Thermal Physics (Addison Wesley). Supplemental
references:
- C. Kittel and H. Kroemer, Thermal Physics
- F. Reif, Fundamentals of Statistical and Thermal Physics
- R. Baierlein, Thermal Physics
A typical graduate level text is L. D. Landau and E. M. Lifshitz,
Statistical Physics.
- Homework assignment 1: Schroeder, Problems 1.12, 1.18, 1.23, 1.28, 1.34,
1.36, due 1-25
- Homework assignment 2: Schroeder, Problems 1.41, 1.42, 1.50, 2.2,
due 1-30
- Homework assignment 3: Schroeder, Problems 2.8, 3.1,
due 2-6
- Homework assignment 4: Schroeder, Problems 2.33, 2.34, 2.35, 2.37,
due 2-13
- Homework assignment 5: Schroeder, Problems 3.34, 4.1, 4.3, 4.5
due 3-15
- Homework assignment 6: Schroeder, Problems 4.14, 4.21
due 3-20
- Homework assignment 7: Schroeder, Problems 5.5, 5.6, 5.7
due 3-27
- Homework assignment 8: Schroeder, Problems 5.32, 5.36, 5.42
due 4-3
Note: 5.36 requires the solution to problem 1.16. The atmospheric
pressure at altitude h is
P(h)=1 atm*exp(-m*g*h/(k*T))=1 atm*exp(-h/28,000 ft)
- Homework assignment 9: Schroeder, Problems 6.20, 6.33, 6.42
due 4-17
- Homework assignment 10: Schroeder, Problems 6.48, 7.3
due 4-26
Please look at the list
of HW sets that we have received. Some HW did not have a name
on it and was not recorded. Please contact me
(thomas_schaefer[at]ncsu.edu) and the TA
(billrobinsonmusic[at]yahoo.com) with corrections.
- Midterm Exam: Monday, February 20, 9:10-10:00
The exam is closed book. You need to bring a pocket calculator.
You will be able to use this sheet with formulas and physical constants:
[postscript,
pdf]
- Final: Friday, May 5, 8:00-11:00
The exam is closed book. You need to bring a pocket calculator.
The material that will be covered includes everything we did in
class or on the homework. In the text book this corresponds to
everything except for sections 1.7 (non-equilibrium phenomena),
5.5 and 5.6 (dilute solutions, chemical equilibrium), 7.3b
(Fermions at small T), 7.5 (Debye Theory), 8 (Interacting systems).
You will be able to use this sheet with formulas and physical constants:
[ps,
pdf]
New: [Final,
Solution]
Questions? Send email to
thomas_schaefer(at)ncsu_edu
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