Lecturer: Prof. Wang Jian-Sheng
Schedule/Venue: Monday 4:00-6:00 LT29, Friday 4:00-6:00 LT26
Final exam: 5 May 2025, 9:00am, Midterm: Friday 7 Mar (all close book)
Textbook: "An Introduction to Thermal Physics," Daniel V. Schroeder.
Offical Syllabus: This essential module for physics major is intended for students who wish to acquire a deep understanding of systems of many particles. It considers the fundamentals of thermodynamics and statistical mechanics and is a prerequisite to advanced statistical mechanics. It covers topics such as: the laws of thermodynamics, thermodynamic functions, ideal gases, heat engines; microcanonical ensemble, canonical ensemble, Boltzmann distribution and partition function; introduction to quantum gases.
Course Outline:
Week 1: 13,17 Jan, concept of temperature, ideal gas
Week 2: 20,24 Jan, work and heat, first law
Week 3: 27,31 Jan, second law, entropy (homework 1 due on Friday 31th Jan)
Week 4: 3,7 Feb equilibrium, 3rd law
Week 5: 10,14 Feb, mechanical/chemical equilibrium
Week 6: 17,21 Feb, heat engines
recess week, no classes
Week 7, 3,7 Mar, enthalpy, free energy (midterm test on 7 Mar Friday)
Week 8: 10,14 Mar, phase transformations
Week 9: 17,21 Mar, Boltzmann factor
Week 10: 24,28 Mar, canonical distribution
Week 11: 4 Apr, quantum statistics (no class Monday Hari Raya Puasa)
Week 12: 7,11 Apr, Fermi gas
Week 13: 14 Apr, Bose particle, blackbody radiation (no class Good Friday)
Homework problem sets are on Canvas at Files. Upload homework as PDF on Canvas at Assignments.
Final exam question paper 2022, 2023,
2024.