Thermal Physics (Rutgers Physics 351)

Instructor: Professor Weida Wu

 

Summary:   “Thermal Physics” is an introduction to thermodynamics and statistical mechanics.  Three model systems, namely, an ideal gas, an Einstein solid, and a two-state paramagnet, will be used as examples to introduce and illustrate various thermodynamic concepts.  The course will begin with the review of some of the familiar concepts related to the conservation of energy (the first law) as applied to thermodynamics.  Quantities such as temperature (T), internal energy (U), work (W) and heat (Q) will be introduced.  Then, the concepts of accessible micro-states, multiplicity (Ω) and entropy (S) will be introduced.  The connection between the multiplicity and the second law of thermodynamics will be established.  Precise relation between temperature and entropy will be given by considering interactions between two macroscopic systems.  The first and second laws are then applied to the discussion of engines and refrigerators.  Phase transitions and equilibrium between states of matter will be the next main topic.  Finally, introductions to classical Boltzmann statistics and quantum statistics of ideal gas wrap up the course.

The tentative outline given above will follow in order of the topics given in the textbook except 1.7, 5.5, 5.6, Sommerfeld expansion in 7.3, 7.5 and chapter 8.  Class periods will be used for lectures, discussions and example problems.  

 

Pre-requisites:  Intro E&M (01:750:227 or 01:750:272) and 01:640:251 (Calc3, Multi-variable)

It is assumed that students have had at least one year of college physics, such as Analytical Physics 227 or 272. Students should be familiar with Newton's Laws, electric and magnetic fields and Maxwell’s equations (at least in integral form), elementary quantum mechanics and atomic structure, and the properties of a harmonic oscillator.

Co-requisites:    None

 

Learning goals: Understanding the fundamental principles of thermodynamics and statistical mechanics.

 

This course is required for students in the Professional Option.

 

Meeting times:  Two 80-minute lectures per week. 

                        Lecture:  Tuesday/Friday  (10:20 -11:40 AM) in Room SEC-203

                        Office hour: Thursday 1:30 - 2:30 PM, in-person in Serin 117 (or schedule via email)

                        Recitations:  None

 

Text (required):  An Introduction to Thermal Physics,  (2021) by Daniel V. Schroeder,  ISBN: 9780192895554 (paperback) ISBN: 9780192895547 (hardcover).

Technology requirements

Either scanner or file scanning APP is required for uploaded homework and remote quizzes.  Please install Zoom app on your computer to ensure the streaming quality.  For scanned PDF, You might either use a scanner or one of the many free scanning apps available for smartphones (NoteBloc, AdobeScan, Office Lens, Genius Scan are some options for scanning apps).

Please visit the Rutgers Student Tech Guide page for resources available to all students.  If you do not have the appropriate technology for financial reasons, please email Dean of Students deanofstudents@echo.rutgers.edu for assistance.  If you are facing other financial hardships, please visit the Office of Financial Aid at https://financialaid.rutgers.edu/

 

Schedule (provisional)

 

Week                           Topic

1                                  introduction, ideal gas law, kinetic theory, 1st law of thermodynamics

2                                  Enthalpy, Multiplicity, Entropy

3                                  2nd and 3rd laws of thermodynamics

4                                  Chemical potential and thermodynamic identities

5                                  Midterm I

6                                  Ideal heat engines and refrigerators

7                                  Free energy, phase transitions of pure substance

8                                  van der Waals gas, phase transitions of mixture

9                                  Spring Break

10                                Midterm II

11                                Boltzmann Statistics, canonical ensembles, equipartition theorem

12                                Gibbs factor, grand canonical ensembles, ideal quantum gas

13                                Degenerate Fermi gas, Bose-Einstein condensation

14                                Blackbody radiation, Review

 

Provisional Grading Plans

Homework:  30%

Midterms: 40%

Final exam: 30%

 

Letter grades (provisional):

90-100 = A

85-90 = B+

80-85 = B

75-80 = C+

65-75 = C

55-65 = D

below 55 = F

 

Policies

• Changes: The course schedule and guidelines are subject to change. I will communicate any changes promptly and clearly. Still, it is your responsibility to make yourself aware of any and all changes by attending class and maintaining communication with me.
• Face coverings: Following university policy, face coverings are required in all indoor teaching spaces, libraries, and clinical settings.
• Absences: Students are expected to attend all classes; if you expect to miss one or two classes, please use the University absence reporting website to indicate the date and reason for your absence. An email is automatically sent to your instructors.
  • If you have been told to quarantine, or are experiencing symptoms of any transmissable disease, please do not attend in-person class meetings. Contact me to make arrangements for handling such absences

Resources for student success

 

The faculty and staff at Rutgers are committed to your success. Students who are successful tend to seek out resources that enable them to excel academically, maintain their health and wellness, prepare for future careers, navigate college life and finances, and connect with the RU community. Helpful resources include the Rutgers Learning Centers and school-based advising (for SAS, SOE, SEBS, and RBS). Additional resources that can help you succeed and connect with the Rutgers community can be found at https://success.rutgers.edu .

 

Please visit the Rutgers Student Tech Guide for resources available to all students. If you do not have the appropriate technology for financial reasons, please email the Dean of Students (deanofstudents@echo.rutgers.edu ) for assistance. If you are facing other financial hardships please visit the Office of Financial Aid.

 

Academic integrity

 

Rutgers University takes academic dishonesty very seriously. By enrolling in this course, you assume responsibility for familiarizing yourself with the Academic Integrity Policy and the possible penalties (including suspension and expulsion) for violating the policy. As per the policy, all suspected violations will be reported to the Office of Student Conduct. Academic dishonesty includes (but is not limited to):

 

• Cheating
• Plagiarism
• Aiding others in committing a violation or allowing others to use your work
• Failure to cite sources correctly
• Fabrication
• Using another person’s ideas or words without attribution–re-using a previous assignment
• Unauthorized collaboration
• Sabotaging another student’s work

 

If in doubt, please contact me. Also review the Academic Integrity Policy and Academic Integrity Resources for Students.

 

Use of external website resources (such as Chegg.com or others) to obtain solutions to homework assignments or exams is cheating and a violation of the University Academic Integrity policy. Cheating in the course may result in grade penalties, disciplinary sanctions or educational sanctions. Posting homework assignments or exams to external sites without the instructor's permission may be a violation of copyright and may constitute the facilitation of dishonesty, which may result in the same penalties as cheating.

 

The Rutgers honor pledge will be included on all major assignments for you to sign: On my honor, I have neither received nor given any unauthorized assistance on this examination/assignment.

 

Almost all original work is the intellectual property of its authors. This includes not just books and articles, but the syllabi, lectures, slides, recordings, course materials, presentations, homework problems, exams, and other materials used in this course, in either printed or electronic form. You may not copy this work, post it online, or disseminate it in any way without the explicit permission of the instructor. Respect for an author’s efforts and intellectual property rights is an important value that members of the university community are expected to take seriously.

 

Student Wellness Services

 

The university provides a number of resources to support your physical and mental well-being.

 

Report a Bias Incident If you experience or witness an act of bias or hate, report it to someone in authority. You may file a report online and you will be contacted within 24 hours.   The bias reporting page is here.

Click here to report a bias incident

 

Bias is defined by the University as an act, verbal, written, physical, psychological, that threatens, or harms a person or group on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital status, civil union status, domestic partnership status, atypical heredity or cellular blood trait, military service or veteran status.

 

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(848) 932-7884 / 17 Senior Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901/ http://health.rutgers.edu/medical-counseling-services/counseling/

CAPS is a University mental health support service that includes counseling, alcohol and other drug assistance, and psychiatric services staffed by a team of professionals within Rutgers Health services to support students’ efforts to succeed at Rutgers University. CAPS offers a variety of services that include: individual therapy, group therapy and workshops, crisis intervention, referral to specialists in the community, and consultation and collaboration with campus partners.

 

Crisis Intervention : http://health.rutgers.edu/medical-counseling-services/counseling/crisis-intervention/

 

Report a Concern:  http://health.rutgers.edu/do-something-to-help/

 

Violence Prevention & Victim Assistance (VPVA)

(848) 932-1181 / 3 Bartlett Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 / www.vpva.rutgers.edu/

The Office for Violence Prevention and Victim Assistance provides confidential crisis intervention, counseling and advocacy for victims of sexual and relationship violence and stalking to students, staff and faculty.  To reach staff during office hours when the university is open or to reach an advocate after hours, call 848-932-1181.

 

Disability Services

 (848) 445-6800 / Lucy Stone Hall, Suite A145, Livingston Campus, 54 Joyce Kilmer Avenue, Piscataway, NJ 08854 /  https://ods.rutgers.edu/

Rutgers University welcomes students with disabilities into all of the University's educational programs. In order to receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, a student with a disability must contact the appropriate disability services office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation: https://ods.rutgers.edu/students/documentation-guidelines. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus’s disability services office will provide you with a Letter of Accommodations. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. To begin this process, please complete the Registration form on the ODS web site at: https://ods.rutgers.edu/students/registration-form.