- Student Records
Programme & Unit Catalogues

Department of Physics, Unit Catalogue 2011/12


PH20029: Thermal physics

Click here for further information Credits: 6
Click here for further information Level: Intermediate (FHEQ level 5)
Click here for further information Period: Semester 1
Click here for further information Assessment: CW 10%, EX 90%
Click here for further information Supplementary Assessment: PH20029 Mandatory Extra Work (where allowed by programme regulations)
Click here for further information Requisites: Before taking this unit you must (take PH10002 or take PH10052) and take PH10007 and take PH10008
Click here for further information Description: Aims:
The aims of this unit are to develop a sound understanding of the concepts of classical thermodynamics and their application to physical processes and to introduce the concepts of statistical mechanics, showing how one builds from an elementary treatment based on a description of microstates to a discussion of Fermi and Bose systems.

Learning Outcomes:
After taking this unit the student should be able to:
* define and understand thermodynamic terms such as temperature, equilibrium, function of state, reversibility;
* understand and apply the 1st and 2nd laws;
* define entropy and the common thermodynamic potentials and understand their importance to phase changes;
* appreciate the need for a microscopic approach to thermal physics and demonstrate an understanding of the microstate formalism;
* derive the appropriate thermodynamic potentials from the partition function of simple models;
* calculate averages, heat capacities and other thermodynamic variables for simple models;
* describe the Fermi-Dirac, Bose-Einstein, Boltzmann and Planck distribution functions and apply them to simple models.

Skills:
Numeracy T/F A, Problem Solving T/F A.

Content:
Overview (1 hour): Macroscopic and microscopic approaches to thermal physics.
Classical thermodynamics (8 hours): Basic thermodynamic concepts. The second law of thermodynamics. Entropy. Analytical thermodynamics; application to phase changes.
Statistical mechanics (8 hours): Microstates and macrostates of an isolated system, density of states, partition function. Principle of equal a priori probabilities; entropy, equilibrium and the second law. Systems in thermal contact with heat reservoir; the Boltzmann distribution. Canonical ensemble. Free energy minimisation.
Systems of weakly interacting constituents (2 hours): Ideal gas and indistinguishability. Equipartition theorem. Maxwellian gas.
Quantum gases (2 hours): Indistinguishability. Fermions and bosons. Low density limit.
Systems with variable particle number (1 hour): Grand canonical distribution; chemical potential.
Click here for further informationProgramme availability:

PH20029 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

Department of Physics
  • USPH-AFB01 : BSc (hons) Physics (Full-time) - Year 2
  • USPH-AFB05 : BSc (hons) Physics with Computing (Full-time) - Year 2
  • USPH-AKB06 : BSc (hons) Physics with Computing (with Placement) (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 2
  • USPH-AAB06 : BSc (hons) Physics with Computing with Year Abroad (Full-time with Study Year Abroad) - Year 2
  • USPH-AKB02 : BSc (hons) Physics (with Placement) (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 2
  • USPH-AAB02 : BSc (hons) Physics with Year Abroad (Full-time with Study Year Abroad) - Year 2
  • USPH-AFM02 : MPhys Physics (Full-time) - Year 2
  • USPH-AFM04 : MPhys Physics with Research Placement (Full-time) - Year 2
  • USPH-AAM03 : MPhys Physics with Year Abroad (Full-time with Study Year Abroad) - Year 2

PH20029 is Optional on the following programmes:

Department of Mathematical Sciences
  • USMA-AFB15 : BSc (hons) Mathematical Sciences (Full-time) - Year 3
  • USMA-AKB16 : BSc (hons) Mathematical Sciences (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 4
  • USMA-AAB16 : BSc (hons) Mathematical Sciences with Study Year Abroad (Full-time with Study Year Abroad) - Year 4
  • USMA-AFB13 : BSc (hons) Mathematics (Full-time) - Year 3
  • USMA-AKB14 : BSc (hons) Mathematics (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 4
  • USMA-AAB14 : BSc (hons) Mathematics with Study Year Abroad (Full-time with Study Year Abroad) - Year 4
  • USMA-AFM14 : MMath Mathematics (Full-time) - Year 3
Department of Physics
  • USXX-AFB03 : BSc (hons) Mathematics and Physics (Full-time) - Year 2
  • USXX-AKB04 : BSc (hons) Mathematics and Physics with Placement (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 2
  • USXX-AAB04 : BSc (hons) Mathematics and Physics with Study Year Abroad (Full-time with Study Year Abroad) - Year 2
  • USPH-AFB09 : BSc Physics (Full-time) - Year 3
  • USPH-AKB09 : BSc Physics (with Placement) (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 4
  • USXX-AFM01 : MSci (hons) Mathematics and Physics (Full-time) - Year 2

NB. Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.