WClasses
PHYS 357 - Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics
Temperature and thermodynamic equilibrium. Work, internal energy, heat. First law. Kinetic theory of gases and the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution. Absolute temperature, reversibility, entropy and the second law. Thermodynamic potentials and Maxwell's relations. Phase transitions. Third Law. Fundamental principles of statistical mechanics including the microcanonical and canonical ensembles.
Prerequisites
1 of AMATH250, AMATH251, MATH228; 1 of ECE206, MATH212, MATH217, MATH227, MATH237, MATH247, NE217; 1 of PHYS267, STAT220, STAT230, STAT240; ((1 of AMATH271, PHYS121) or PHYS111 with a grade of at least 80%).
Corequisites
None
Antirequisites
CHEM254, ECE403, PHYS358, PHYS359