F7090 Thermodynamics and statistical physics

Faculty of Science
Spring 2011
Extent and Intensity
3/2/0. 4 credit(s) (fasci plus compl plus > 4). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
doc. RNDr. Aleš Lacina, CSc. (lecturer)
RNDr. Eva Kutálková, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
doc. RNDr. Aleš Lacina, CSc.
Department of Plasma Physics and Technology – Physics Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: doc. RNDr. Aleš Lacina, CSc.
Timetable
Tue 15:00–16:50 Fs1 6/1017, Thu 13:00–15:50 F4,03017
Prerequisites (in Czech)
F4050 Introduction to Microphysics || F4100 Introduction to Microphysics
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is offered to students of any study field.
Course objectives
At the end of this course, students should: understand and be able to explain basic concepts and ideas of thermodynamics and statistical physics; understand and be able to explain both their interconnections and wider relations; be able to analyze and solve problems connected with applications.
Syllabus
  • 1. Basic concepts and ideas of thermodynamics (the macroscopic state of a thermodynamic system, the state parameters, the zeroth, first and second thermodynamic laws). 2. Equilibrium thermodynamics (temperature, state equations, heat capacity, entropy, the fundamental thermodynamic equation and its consequences, thermodynamic potentials, the third thermodynamic law). 3. Elements of non-equilibrium thermodynamics (irreversible processes, relaxation of thermodynamic systems, the equilibrium conditions, the phase equilibrium, phase transitions). 4. Basic concepts and ideas of statistical physics (the microscopic state of a system, phase spaces, time averaging, statistical averaging, the ergodic hypothesis, fluctuations). 5. Canonical distributions (distribution law as an integral of motion, microcanonical, canonical and grandcanonical distribution, thermodynamic equivalence of canonical distributions). 6. Applications of the canonical distribution to classical systems (Maxwell, Boltzmann and Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution, ideal gas in various external conditions, the kinetic method of the derivation of the equation of state of an ideal gas, the principle of equipartition of energy and its applications, the classical theory of heat capacity). 7. The statistical interpretation of thermodynamics (distribution law and entropy, partition function and its physical meaning, the method of statistical thermodynamics, basic thermodynamic quantities for classical ideal gas, statistical meaning of entropy and temperature, statistical interpretation of fundamental thermodynamic principles). 8. Statistics and some of their applications (quantum ideal gas, Bose-Einstein, Fermi-Dirac and Boltzmann distribution law, the classical statistics as a limiting case of the quantum statistics, laws of blackbody radiation (photons), heat capacity of solids, the quantum model of free electrons and its applications in solid state physics). 9. Statistical thermodynamics at university and at school (a survey of the most frequent school presentations and elementary treatments and their critical analysis).
Literature
  • LACINA, Aleš. Základy termodynamiky a statistické fyziky. 1. vyd. Praha: Státní pedagogické nakladatelství, 1990, 267 s. ISBN 8021001135. info
  • KITTEL, Charles and Herbert KROEMER. Thermal Physics. 2nd ed. New York: W.H. Freeman, 1980, 473 s. ISBN 0-7167-1088-9. info
  • REIF, F. Statistical physics. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1967, xxi, 398. info
  • KUBO, Ryogo. Termodinamika : sovremennyj kurs s zadačami i rešenijami. Translated by A. G. Baškirov - Je. Je. Tarejeva. Moskva: Mir, 1970, 304 s. info
  • KLVAŇA, František, Aleš LACINA and J. NOVOTNÝ. Sbírka příkladů ze statistické fyziky. 1. vyd. Brno: Rektorát UJEP, 1974, 169 s. info
Teaching methods
Lecture with a seminar.
Assessment methods
Examination consists of two parts: written and oral.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course can also be completed outside the examination period.
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 1999, Spring 2008 - for the purpose of the accreditation, Spring 2011 - only for the accreditation, Autumn 2000, Spring 2002, Spring 2003, Spring 2004, Spring 2005, Spring 2006, Spring 2007, Spring 2008, Spring 2009, Spring 2010, Spring 2012, spring 2012 - acreditation.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2011, recent)
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