HEAT AND THERMODYNAMICS PHY 522 Fall, 2010

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1 HEAT AND THERMODYNAMICS PHY 522 Fall, 2010 I. INSTRUCTOR Professor Lance De Long Office: CP363 ( ) Labs: CP75, CP158 ( ), ASTeCC A041 Office Hours: M 10:30-11:30 a.m.; T 8:30-9:30 a.m. II. COURSE DESCRIPTION/MOTIVATION PHY522 is a three-hour, intermediate-level, lecture and problem course providing an introduction to the concepts and formalism of thermodynamics and statistical mechanics for physics or other science majors. The Course will meet TR in CP397, 9:30-10:45 a.m., beginning on Aug. 26, Primary emphasis is on the development of the laws of thermodynamics as an explanation of equilibrium phenomena, and its applications to solving standard problems such as the ideal gas, magnetic systems, heat engines, fluid flow and (possibly, if time allows) simple phase transitions. In addition, material relating to the microscopic meaning of entropy and the role of probability and statistical methods in modern models of thermal phenomena will be presented. The course will begin with a review of the elementary principles of macroscopic thermodynamics, assuming students have had some prior introduction at the PHY231 level. The Course will also use simple statistical concepts and quantum models that will provide an introduction to more general theoretical principles and additional applications that will be examined in detail in graduate courses in statistical mechanics. Macroscopic thermodynamics has been described as the only correct theory in physics, mainly because it is essentially a phenomenological (i.e., experimentally based) construct; that is, it is based upon what is observed to be and not what is imagined to be. There are at least three reasons why a macroscopic treatment of thermal physics is useful: 1) First, the phenomenology of thermodynamics has been distilled into several concise, powerful laws that function much like fundamental mathematical theorems that can be applied almost universally to the physical universe, regardless of the detailed nature of the system under consideration. 2) Secondly, our best microscopic models (i.e., statistical mechanics) of many-particle systems are plagued by subtle paradoxes and ad hoc assumptions that are difficult to rationalize with our intuition and knowledge of single-particle physics. This has led to the view that statistical mechanics seems to have the essence of the truth, but is on extremely shaky footing as a fundamental theory. 3) Third, existing statistical models of interacting systems of particles are extremely difficult to solve quantitatively, whereas macroscopic thermodynamic treatments are accurate and reliable. On the other hand, macroscopic thermodynamics can appear to be an extremely dry and intimidating formalism that requires quite a bit of logical discipline and physical intuition in

2 PHY 522 Syllabus 2 Fall, 2010 successfully applying it to arbitrary problems. Furthermore, the microscopic, statistical approach is in many ways a more intuitive method based upon the familiar foundation provided by basic classical and quantum theories of particles. Such an approach is absolutely necessary in existing theories that take into account the quantum nature of microscopic systems. Topics will therefore be approached from a starting point of defining phenomena ( case studies ) and their physical characteristics, followed by the presentation of simple microscopic models using statistical methods that describe the essential features of the phenomenon. These models can then be used to develop a purely thermodynamic treatment to elaborate the macroscopic behavior of the system. III. REQUIRED MATERIALS AND PREREQUISITES The required textbook is S. J. Blundell and K. M. Blundell, Concepts in Thermal Physics (Oxford University Press, 2 nd Edition, 2010). A very useful reference for macroscopic thermodynamics is the book by C. J. Adkins, Equilibrium Thermodynamics (Cambridge, 3rd Ed., Cambridge, UK, 1983). The Instructor will put a few other texts or references on reserve in the Chemistry/Physics Library, as announced. There will also be a copy of the lecture notes, as amended on a semi-regular schedule, on reserve in the CP Library. The stated prerequisites in the UK Bulletin are MA214 and PHY361. Familiarity with multivariate calculus and partial derivatives will be essential. IV. STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES The present Course will emphasize active involvement in class discussion, and the use of logic and integrative thinking on the part of the student. Therefore, homework exercises will develop the student's ability to independently apply the information and skills gained in the text, lecture and previously assigned problems, to new situations. Additional out-of-class preparation and careful attention in lectures will be necessary for students to learn important skills and subject matter, and to help them ask productive questions during class time. It is very important that students should also read relevant sections of the textbook or other references (on Reserve in the CP Library, for example), preferably before they are covered in Lecture. Therefore, students should expect to regularly attend class and to spend around 10 hours per week on homework and background reading. Four or five homework problems will be assigned from lecture and the textbook each week, for around 4-5 points of credit for each problem assigned. Past experience has shown that poor homework performance is highly correlated with a low Course grade. Depending upon the identification of a mutually agreeable time, a weekly Tutorial Session will be organized to discuss homework problems and general questions regarding Course material, since there is very limited class time available for lectures and exams. V. GRADING The criteria for assigning course grades is given in the University of Kentucky Bulletin The final course grade will be based on: A. Homework (total of scores), 30% B. Midterm Hour Exam, 30% C. Final Exam, 40% (to be held in CP297 on Tuesday, Dec. 14, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.)

3 PHY 522 Syllabus 3 Fall, 2010 VI. ATTENDENCE AND MAKE-UPS PLEASE NOTE THAT STUDENTS WHO DO NOT ATTEND EITHER OF THE FIRST TWO LECTURES OF THE COURSE WILL BE DROPPED FROM THE CLASS ROLE, AS DEMANDED BY THE A&S DEAN. If you must miss an examination or cannot turn in a homework set, a make-up can be arranged. Acceptable excuses include serious illness, official University activity (e.g., away game, field trip), etc. Foreseeable absences, such as University activities, must be cleared with your instructor at least one week in advance. Unforeseen absences must be excused by your Instructor no later than one week after the fact in order for a make-up to be allowed. You may not double-schedule classes or agree to out-of-class exams in conflict with PHY 522 exams -- these are not acceptable excuses. The Instructor has the right to request some form of documentation justifying student absences, and has authority to judge the acceptability of the excuse, consistent with University rules. In extraordinary circumstances in which the student has a valid excuse for missing a large number of assignments or the Final Exam, an "Incomplete" grade may be given, consistent with University regulations. VII. STUDENT COURSE EVALUATIONS Students are required to complete an evaluation of the Course (online) during the period, W Nov. 17 through W Dec. 8, A link to the evaluation website is given under Courses on the (UK Arts and Sciences) Department of Physics and Astronomy web site.

4 PHY 522 Syllabus 4 Fall, 2010 VII. COURSE SCHEDULE (TENTATIVE; 8/24/10 VERSION) DATE ACTIVITY TOPIC READINGS/HW PART ONE: ZEROTH AND FIRST LAWS R Aug. 26 L1 Introduction to Heat, Conservation of Energy B1-2 T Aug. 31 L2 Equilibrium, Temperature, Zeroth Law B4.1-B4.4, A1-2 R Sept. 2 L3 Heat and Its Mechanical Equivalent, B11, A3 (skip A ) Energy Conservation, First Law HW#1 Due T Sept. 7 L4 Reversibility, Internal Energy and Differentials B12, A1, A3, A5 R Sept. 9 L5 Simple Applications of FLT, Ideal Gas Law B6, B12, HW#2 Due Probability Handout PART TWO: ELEMENTARY KINETIC THEORY AND PROBABILITY T Sept. 14 L6 Kinetic Temperature, Maxwell-Boltzmann B4.5-B4.7, B5 Velocity Distribution W Sept LAST DAY TO DROP COURSE R Sept. 16 L7 Introduction to Probability B3, HW#3 Due T Sept. 21 L8 Examples of Probability Problems: Diffusion, B15, Handout Random Walk R Sept. 23 L9 Probability Methods, Information Theory B15, Handout, HW#4 Due PART THREE: SECOND LAW AND APPLICATIONS T Sept. 28 L10 Practical Heat Engines, Efficiency B13, A4.8, A4.9 R Sept. 30 L11 Carnot Engine, Absolute Temperature, 2 nd Law B13, A , A5, HW#4 Due T Oct. 5 L12 Equivalent Statements of SLT, Clausius Th. B13, A5 R Oct. 7 L13 Entropy, Combined FLT and SLT B13, A5, HW#5 Due T Oct. 12 ME MIDTERM HOUR EXAM PARTS I, II, above R Oct. 14 L14 Ideal Gas and Joule Effect, Gibbs Paradox B 13, A5.6, A8.2, A9.1

5 PHY 522 Syllabus 5 Fall, 2010 DATE ACTIVITY TOPIC READINGS/HW M Oct MIDTERM GRADES POSTED T Oct. 19 L15 Thermodynamic Potentials, Math Methods B , A1.9, A3.7, A7.1 R Oct. 21 L16 Math Methods: Legendre Transforms and B16.6, A , Maxwell Relations HW#6 Due T Oct. 26 L17 Constraints, Equilibrium Conditions, Availability B16.5, A7.4 R Oct. 28 L18 Applications of Thermodynamic Potentials B17, A , HW#7 Due PART FOUR: CLASSICAL STATISTICAL MECHANICS T Nov. 2 L19 Boltzmann Distribution, Equipartition Theorem B19 R Nov. 4 L20 Classical Partition Function B20, HW#8 Due F Nov LAST DAY TO WITHDRAW FROM COURSE T Nov. 9 L21 Classical Ideal Gas, Gibbs Paradox B21, A R Nov. 11 L22 Chemical Potential, Applications B22, A11.1-A11.4 HW#9 Due T Nov 16 L23 Nonideal Gases, Joule-Thompson Effect B26, A8.3, A R Nov. 18 L24 Phase Transitions G , A8.3, A , A , HW#10 Due PART FIVE: INDISTINGUISHABILITY AND QUANTUM STATISTICS T Nov. 23 L25 Fermi-Dirac, Bose-Einstein Distributions B29 Nov THANKSGIVING VACATION T Nov. 30 L26 Ideal, Interacting Fermi Gas B30.2, A10.8 R Dec. 2 L27 Ideal Bose Gas; Blackbody Law B , B , A8.9, HW#11 Due T Dec. 7 L28 Bose-Einstein Condensation B30.4, A10.8 R Dec COURSE REVIEW

6 PHY 522 Syllabus 6 Fall, 2010 DATE ACTIVITY TOPIC READINGS/HW T Dec. 14 FE FINAL EXAMINATION, CP397, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Coverage is comprehensive for whole Semester M Dec SEMESTER ENDS, GRADES DUE TO REGISTRAR KEY to Readings: A C. J. Adkins, Equilibrium Thermodynamics (Cambridge, 3rd Ed., Cambridge, UK, 1983) B S. J. Blundell and K. M. Blundell, Concepts in Thermal Physics (Oxford University Press, 2 nd Edition, 2010).