Date

Topic

Homework due?

M 1-14

Classical Thermodynamics

Thermal equilibrium, temperature, properties, states of a system

W 1-16

Ideal gas, Van der Waals gas, expansion and compressibility; phase diagrams

F 1-18

Phase diagrams, internal energy, work; configuration work and dissipative work;

First law of thermodynamics

handout

1.4

1.5

1.6

M 1-21

MLK Day

W 1-23

Exact and inexact differentials; thermal interaction; heat capacities

F 1-25

Adiabatic processes, Carnot cycle

Handout 1.11, 1.12, 1.17, 1.20,

Book 1.33

answers

M 1-28

Entropy, Carnot cycle and second law

W 1-30

Entropy, Carnot cycle and second law

F 2-1

Entropy, Carnot cycle and second law

Introduction to statistical methods

Chapter2 handout

Probability/ ensembles/phase space

1.24, 1.25, 1.28, 1.29 (handout)

1.38 (book)

answers

M 2-4

Random walk

Binomial distribution

W 2-6

Means and dispersion

F 2-8

Stirling formula

Poisson Distribution

Handout Chapter 2:  2.7

Handout Chapter 1.35, 1: 1.43, 1.44, 1.45 answers

M 2-11

Gaussian Distribution

Problem set 1 handed out

 Link to consultation appointments

problem set 1

answers

W 2-13

Multiple dimensions Functions of random variables

F 2-15

Entropy and temperature

chapter3 handout

Accessible states, multiplicity, equilibrium, probability

2.10, 2.11, 2.22 Handout Chapter 2

M 2-18

Multiplicity functions for various systems

W 2-20

homework

Problem set 1 due

F 2-22

Systems in thermal contact – maximum of multiplicity, entropy, definition of temperature

2.23, 2.24 Chapter handout

2.5 and 2.6 book answer

M 2-25

W 2-27

F 3-1

Boltzmann distribution and Helmholtz free energy

chapter handout 4

Boltzmann factors, partition function

Bookproblems, chapter 2: 2.8, 2.9 (can be submitted electronically) answers

Chapter handout 3, problem 12

M 3-4

Averaging, mean energy, dispersion

W 3-6

Mean energy, specific heat, pressure, work

F 3-8

Entropy, free energy and Z

Chapter handout 4, problem 3

Schroeder 6.3, 6.5, 6.6

answers

M 3-11

Partition function ideal gas

W 3-13

F 3-15

Thermal radiation and Planck distribution

Handout 4 problem 13, 19

Schroeder problem 6.31

answers

Spring break

M 3-25

blackbody radiation handout

W 3-27

Chemical potential

6 - chemical equiibrium

Problem Set 2 is handed out

F 3-29

6.20, 6.42, from book answer

M 4-1

Chemical potential

Please sign up for consultation

W 4-3

Fermi and Bose Gases

F 4-5

Distributions

Problem 6, handout6

answer

M 4-8

Fermi gas, conduction electrons

Problem Set 2 is due at class time

answers

spreadsheet

W 4-10

Further development of thermodynamics

Thermodynamic functions, Maxwell relations

F 4-11

Thermodynamic functions, interpretation

Schroeder 7.10, 7.11, 7.20

answer

M 4-15

Applications of thermodynamic functions

W 4-17

Gibbs distribution

F 4-19

M 4-22

Gibbs distribution, examples

W 4-24

Equilibrium situations

F 4-26

Phase equilibrium

 Handout 8, problems 8, 9, 10

answers

M 4-29

Presentation Peter: Bose-Einstein condensation

W 5-1

Presentation Allie: Maxwell velocity distribution

F 5-3

Presentation Jack: Ferromagnetism

Handout 9 problem 5

Schroeder 5.28, 5.37

answer

Final exam

Take-home

answers for final

problem 5 spreadsheet