Courses:

Statistical Physics I >> Content Detail



Syllabus



Syllabus

Amazon logo When you click the Amazon logo to the left of any citation and purchase the book (or other media) from Amazon.com, MIT OpenCourseWare will receive up to 10% of this purchase and any other purchases you make during that visit. This will not increase the cost of your purchase. Links provided are to the US Amazon site, but you can also support OCW through Amazon sites in other regions. Learn more.



Description


This course offers an introduction to probability, statistical mechanics, and thermodynamics. Specific topics in probability include random variables, joint and conditional probability densities, and functions of a random variable. Concepts in statistical mechanics include macroscopic variables and thermodynamic equilibrium, fundamental assumptions of statistical mechanics, and microcanonical and canonical ensembles. First, second, and third laws of thermodynamics. Numerous examples illustrating a wide variety of physical phenomena such as magnetism, polyatomic gases, thermal radiation, electrons in solids, and noise in electronic devices.



Prerequisites


Physics III: Vibrations and Waves (8.03), Differential Equations (18.03) and Concurrent Enrollment in Quantum Physics I (8.04) is recommended.



Textbooks




Required


Amazon logo Adkins, C.J. Equilibrium Thermodynamics. New York City, NY: Cambridge University Press, 1983. ISBN: 9780521274562.

Amazon logo Baierlein, Ralph. Thermal Physics. New York City, NY: Cambridge University Press, 1999. ISBN: 9780521658386.



Recommended


Amazon logo Reif, Frederick. Fundamentals of Statistical and Thermal Physics. New York City, NY: McGraw-Hill, 1965. ISBN: 9780070518001.

We will not cover the entire book. Rather, you will be given reading assignments which are relevant to the material covered in the lectures.

Amazon logo Zemansky, Mark, and Richard Dittman. Heat and Thermodynamics. New York City, NY: McGraw-Hill, 1997. ISBN: 9780071148160.

A classic undergraduate textbook on thermodynamics at about the same level as 8.044. Some students may appreciate the lengthier discussion of thermodynamics and the numerous examples treated throughout the text.

Amazon logo Kittel, Charles and Herbert Kroemer. Thermal Physics. San Francisco, CA: W. H. Freeman, 1990. ISBN: 9780716710882.

A currently popular undergraduate textbook at the level of 8.044. It does not follow the development we use, but the alternative discussions of individual topics may be helpful to some students.

Amazon logo Huang, Kerson. Statistical Mechanics. New York City, NY: Wiley, 1987. ISBN: 9780471815181.

A graduate text often used in MIT subjects. Above the level of 8.044, but the clear and concise explanations of thermodynamics and the three statistical ensembles are hard to beat.


Exams


There will be two exams during the semester that contribute 23% each toward the final grade and a comprehensive final exam that contributes 40% towards the final grade.



Homework


Problem sets are due in the lecture on the days indicated on the calendar. Working through these problems is crucial to understanding the material deeply. After attempting each problem by yourself, we encourage you to discuss the problems with the teaching staff and with other students -- this is an excellent way to learn physics. You must write up your solutions by yourself, and not copy from someone else's work or from solutions from a previous year.

The homework contributes 14% toward the final grade.



Grading


The final grade for the course will be based on the following:

ACTIVITIESPERCENTAGES
Problem sets14%
Exam 123%
Exam 223%
Final exam40%

Note that the course is not graded on any predetermined curve. If the class as a whole shows exceptional mastery of statistical mechanics, the grades will be exceptionally high. Since we use absolute rather than relative standards, it is impossible for a student to lower his or her grade by helping other classmates understand the material.


 








© 2010-2021 OpenCollege.com, All Rights Reserved.
Open College is a service mark of AmeriCareers LLC.