PHYS2020 Thermal and Statistical Physics
Later Year Course
| Offered By | Department of Physics |
|---|---|
| Academic Career | Undergraduate |
| Course Subject | Physics |
| Offered in | First Semester, 2009 and First Semester, 2010 |
| Unit Value | 6 units |
| Course Description |
Thermal physics deals with large numbers of particles, anything big enough to see with a conventional microscope. From understanding the greenhouse effect to the blackbody radiation left over from the Big Bang, no other physical theory is used more widely through out science. This course begins with a study of statistical mechanics in which the laws of statistics are used to make the connection between the quantum behaviour of 1 atom and the behaviour of bulk matter made up of 10^23 atoms. This leads to the concepts of temperature, entropy, Boltzmann and Gibbs factors, partition functions and distribution functions. These concepts are then used in the classical thermodynamics approach to explore free energy, heat, the fundamental behaviour of heat engines and refrigerators and phase transformations. |
| Learning Outcomes |
On satisfying the requirements of this course, students will have the knowledge and skills to: 1. Identify and describe the statistical nature of concepts and laws in thermodynamics, in particular: entropy, temperature, chemical potential, Free energies, partition functions.2. Use the statistical physics methods, such as Boltzmann distribution, Gibbs distribution, Fermi-Dirac and Bose-Einstein distributions to solve problems in some physical systems. 3. Apply the concepts and principles of black-body radiation to analyze radiation phenomena in thermodynamic systems. 4. Apply the concepts and laws of thermodynamics to solve problems in thermodynamic systems such as gases, heat engines and refrigerators etc. 5. Analyze phase equilibrium condition and identify types of phase transitions of physical systems. 6. Make connections between applications of general statistical theory in various branches of physics. 7. Design, set up, and carry out experiments; analyse data recognising and accounting for errors; and compare with theoretical predictions. |
| Indicative Assessment |
Assessment will be based on:
|
| Workload |
A total of approximately twenty-eight lectures and thirty hours of tutorials and laboratory work.
|
| Areas of Interest | Physics |
| Requisite Statement |
Requires PHYS1101 and PHYS1201 and mathematics to at least the standard of MATH1013 and MATH1014. |
| Science Group | B |
| Academic Contact | Professor David McClelland |
The information published on the Study at ANU 2009 website applies to the 2009 academic year only. All information provided on this website replaces the information contained in the Study at ANU 2008 website.
