FYS253 Thermal Physics

Teaching structure: One 2-hour lecture per week. One 2-hour problem solving class per week.

Content: Fundamental thermodynamics concepts and their application in different scenarios. First and second law, enthalpy, free energy, entropy, ideal gas mixtures, thermodynamics property relations, ensembles, interacting particles, and introduction to phase and chemical equilibrium. Basic concepts in statistical physics such as Boltzmann distribution, Kinetic theory of gases, equipartition theorem, and partition functions.

Obtain a good understanding of thermodynamics and statistical physics.

The students will have an introduction to ideal gas mixtures and models of gases and vapor mixtures. Thermodynamic property relations will be introduced. Their use will be presented with a focus on their use in statistical thermodynamics.

An introduction to real gas behavior and equations of state for gasses will also be presented. Chemical reaction equilibrium will be presented, and the students will be taught how to calculate the equilibrium constant and thermodynamic properties at equilibrium conditions.

Students will be given an introduction to statistical physics and the implications of its use. The students will be introduced to the statistical behavior and probabilistic analysis of matter and its properties. Students will learn how microscopic properties affect macroscopic properties of matter.