PHYS3031 Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics
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PHYS3031 Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics

This course emphasizes the understanding of the fundamental concepts and basic theories of thermodynamics, and the analytical skills needed to analyze various thermodynamic systems. In addition to a classical approach to equilibrium thermodynamics and their applications, essential concepts in statistical physics including the relationship between microstates and entropy in an isolated system, the Boltzmann distribution, density of states, Fermi-Dirac and Bose-Einstein distributions will be discussed.
Lecturer

Prof. GOH Swee Kuan
Office: SCNB 304,
Tel: 3943 6155,
Email: skgoh@cuhk.edu.hk
Consultation Hour: Monday 5:00-6:00 pm

Teaching Assistant(s)

Mr. Wong Hiu Wing
Office: SCNB 313
Email: hwwong@phy.cuhk.edu.hk
Consultation Hour: Thursday 4:30 - 6:15 pm

Mr. Zhang Wei
Office: SCNB 315
Email: wzhang@phy.cuhk.edu.hk
Consultation Hour: Thursday 3:30 - 5:15 pm

Mr. Wang Wenyan
Office: SCNB 315
Email: wywang@phy.cuhk.edu.hk
Consultation Hour: Tuesday 4:30 - 6:15 pm


Lecture Class

Monday 11.30 am - 1.15 pm
Wednesday 12.30 am - 1.15 pm
Online lectures; access link will be sent to registered students

Tutorial Class

Wednesday 1.30 pm - 2.15 pm
Online classes; access link will be sent to registered students

Exercise Class

Thursday 9.30 am - 10.15 am
Thursday 6.30 pm - 7.15 pm
Friday 9.30 am - 10.15 am
Online classes; access link will be sent to registered students

Reference book(s)

Adkins, Equilibrium thermodynamics, Cambridge Univ. Press
Blundell and Blundell, Concepts in Thermal Physics, Oxford Univ. Press
Steane, Thermodynamics, Oxford Univ. Press

Assessment Scheme

Homework 20%
Mid-term [on 10 March 2021 (Wednesday)] 30%
Final Exam. 50%

Course Outline

Thermodynamics (about 2/3 of the course):
  • Thermodynamic variables
  • The first law of thermodynamics
  • The second law of thermodynamics
  • Entropy
  • Thermodynamic potentials
  • Phase transitions

    Statistical physics (about 1/3 of the course):
  • Microscopic interpretation of entropy
  • Equilibrium distributions (Fermi-Dirac, Bose-Einstein, Maxwell-Boltzmann)
  • Density of states
  • Ideal Fermi gas and Bose gas