2023-2024 Catalog

PHYS 335 Thermal Physics

The fundamental concepts of heat, temperature, work, internal energy, entropy, reversible and irreversible processes, thermodynamic potentials, etc., are considered from a modern microscopic as well as traditional macroscopic viewpoint. Statistical thermodynamics is used primarily to study the equilibrium properties of ideal systems and simple models. This course provides the background needed to understand materials from a microscopic point of view.

Prerequisite

PHYS 215; MATH 263

Offered

Fall semester, alternate years

Instructor

Staff