I. Course Title: Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics
II. Course Number: PHYS 330
III. Credit Hours: 3 credits
IV. Prerequisites: PHYS 112 or PHYS 222, and MATH 172
V. Course Description:
Students will study classical thermodynamics and its applications, including how it addresses a contemporary scientific/engineering issue. Students will study quantum statistical mechanics and how those techniques are applied to ensembles of particles.
Note(s): Applied Learning designated course.
VI. Detailed Description of Content of the Course:
This is an intermediate-level physics course. Topics will be treated with some depth. The students' math skills, including calculus, are expected to be good. Statistical methods will be introduced starting with fundamentals and with the specific applications to thermal physics firmly in mind.
The topics to be covered include:
VI. Detailed Description of Conduct of Course:
This course consists of regular lectures plus an applied thermodynamics project that will involve independent learning outside of the regular classroom setting. The project will be chosen to address a scientific/engineering issue in contemporary society. The first half of the semester covers the principles of classical thermodynamics, and the second half covers those of quantum statistical mechanics.
VII. Goals and Objectives of the Course:
By the end of this class students should be able to
VIII. Assessment Measures:
Students’ abilities to solve problems in this class are assessed through regular graded homework and tests. They will also be assessed on their work on the applied thermodynamics project. The results of the project will be presented to a broader population beyond the class members at the end of the semester.
Other Course Information: None
Review and Approval
March 1, 2018
September 2001 Reviewed by Walter S. Jaronski, Chair
March 01, 2021