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Physics 341: Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics |
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Lecture: M W F 10:10 am - 11:00 am, Rockefeller 102
Section: R 3:35 pm - 4:25 pm, Rockefeller 102
This course introduces a powerful formalism that has enabled physicists to explain how phenomena on the macroscopic scale arise from the simpler description of matter at the microscopic scale. A gas cools when expanded while a piece of rubber heats up. How do we explain the difference?
Follow this link for a brief explanation of the movie at the top of the page.
We will closely follow the excellent text by Frederick Reif, Fundamentals of Statistical and Thermal Physics. Reading assignments are posted here.
There will be weekly homework assignments, with problems mostly taken from the text. Your solutions will be evaluated on the basis of quality more so than in the physics courses you have taken in the past. For example, the grader will be looking for actual English sentences that provide some context, logic, etc. for the calculation or derivation in the exercise. A cryptic set of equations with a circled final result is not satisfactory. While neatness is also appreciated, we do not expect you to use typesetting software to compose your solutions, in fact we discourage this practice. You may work on the homework problems with other students in the class as long as the actual writing of the solution is an individual effort and you acknowledge the contributions of others.
Homework assignments are posted here and will be collected in class on Mondays.
Homework solutions are posted here.
We will occasionally demonstrate ideas with Mathematica software that you can find here.
Your grade in the course will be based on class participation (10%), homework (40%), two in-class prelims (30%), and a final exam (20%).
Every student in this course is expected to abide by the Cornell University Code of Academic Integrity.
http://cuinfo.cornell.edu/Academic/AIC.html