PHYSICS

PHY202: Thermodynamics and statistical physics
Instructor: Tripta Bhatia (triptabhatia@iisermohali.ac.in), Office: 5F12, AB1
Jan-May, 2024
IISER Mohali
 
General Instructions
 
1.     Welcome to the course.  The aim of this course is to familiarize you with the thermodynamics & Statistical Physics. 
 
2.     PHY202 is a three-credit course.  This means that you are expected to put in up to 6 hours of work each week outside classroom.  Please keep this in mind while managing your time. 
 
3.     Kindly note that attending lectures is not sufficient for understanding the subject and you are expected to supplement discussions in classroom with independent study and solving problems. 
 
4.     Classes for PHY202 are scheduled at 1200-1300 hrs, Monday, Wednesday, Friday at LH5.   
 
5.     Problem sets will be available on the course web page on Google class.   
 
6.     We have a total of .. scheduled sessions during the semester.
 
7.     You will be given problem sets and it is expected that you will work through the problems and discuss in case of any difficulty.    
 
8.     You are strongly encouraged to use e-mail or office hours (Wednesday 2 pm) for discussions.  Other modes (phone, etc.) are to be used only in an emergency.   
 
9.     I will appreciate it if you point out any mistakes in notes, problems, or classroom discussion as it helps to improve the quality of course. 
 
10.  Students late by 30 mins are NOT allowed in the class.
 
Evaluation Scheme

• 2 Mid-Semester Exams, total weightage 30%
• Assignments, Quiz, total weightage 25%
• End Semester Exam, total weightage 40%
• Attendance 5%

PHY202: Thermodynamics and statistical physics
        [Cr:3, Lc:2, Tt:1, Lb:0]
Course Outline

• Macroscopic and microscopic point of view, scope of thermodynamics, thermal equilibrium and zeroth law, equation of state. Hydrostatic systems. Examples.
• Intensive and extensive coordinates, Quasi-static process, work for hydrostatic systems, PV diagrams, path dependence of work, exact differentials.
• Work and heat, internal energy function, First law, differential form, heat capacity, heat reservoirs.
• Second law, Carnot cycle, Carnot theorem, Kelvin-Planck statement, Clausius statement, entropy and second law, entropy of ideal gas, principle of increase of entropy.
• Entropy maximum principle, energy minimum principle, Legendre transforms, thermodynamic potentials.
• Physical interpretation of entropy, two-level systems, deviation from most probable state, canonical formalism.

Recommended Reading

• M. W. Zemansky and R.H.Dittman, Heat and Thermodynamics, 7th edition, McGraw-Hill Inc. (1997).
• H. B. Callen, Thermodynamics and introduction to thermostatistics, 2nd edition, Wiley & Sons (1985).
• C. Kittel and H. Kroemer, Thermal Physics, 2nd edition, W. H. Freeman Inc. (1980).
• S. J. Blundell & K. M. Blundell, Concepts in Thermal Physics. Oxford University Press.