Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics

Paper Code: 
PHY 301
Credits: 
03
Contact Hours: 
45.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 

To acquaint the students with basic laws of thermodynamics and statistical physics, methods of producing low temperatures, Carnots engine so that they develop the scientific attitude to relate this knowledge to their daily life experiences. They learn about the efficiency and develop an aptitude to design more efficient systems. 

Course Outcomes (COs): 

 

Course

Learning outcome 

(at course level)

Learning and teaching strategies

Assessment Strategies 

Paper Code

   Paper Title

PHY 301

Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics

(Theory)

 

The students will be able to –

 

CO34: Learn the basic concepts of thermodynamics, the Zeroth, first and the second law of thermodynamics, the concept of entropy and the associated theorems, the thermodynamic potentials and their physical interpretations.

 

CO35: Identify which procedure to be used to produce low temperature and to analyze the difference between Liquid He I and He II.

 

CO36: Understand the concepts of microstate, macrostate, ensemble, phase space, thermodynamic probability and partition function.

 

CO37: Learn advanced topics related to Quantum Statistical Mechanics and use the partition function for calculations about the canonical ensemble.

 

CO38: Learn the basic aspects of kinetic theory of gases, Maxwell-Boltzman distribution law, equitation of energies, mean free path of molecular collisions, viscosity, thermal conductivity, diffusion and Brownian motion.

Approach in teaching:

Interactive Lectures, Discussion, Tutorials, Power point presentation,Problem Solving in tutorials

Learning activities for the students:

Self learning assignments, Effective questions, Seminar presentation, Solving numericals

Class test, Semester end examinations, Quiz, Solving problems, Assignments, Presentations

 

10.00
Unit I: 
Basic Thermodynamics

The Zeroth law, Various indicator diagrams(P-V diagram),  First law of thermodynamics, Reversible and irreversible processes, Carnot’s engine, Carnot’s cycle and efficiency of Carnot’s engine, reversibility of Carnot’s engine, Carnot’s theorem. Second law of thermodynamics, (different statements and their equivalence) Entropy, Principle of increase of entropy, Thermodynamic scale of temperature, Thermodynamic scale as an absolute scale,  Third law of thermodynamics.

8.00
Unit II: 
Thermodynamic Relations

Maxwell’s thermodynamic relations, Triple point, Clausius Clapyron latent heat equation,Effect of pressure on boiling point of liquids, Helmholtz free energy, Enthalpy, Gibbs function,Internal energy,Thermodynamic potentials, Deduction of Maxwell’s relations from thermodynamic potentials.

8.00
Unit III: 
Production of low temperatures

Joule Thomson expansion and JT coefficient for ideal as well as Vander Waals gas, Porous plug experiment, Temperature of inversion, Regenerative cooling, cooling by adiabatic expansion and demagnetization, liquid He, He I and He II, Peculiar properties of He II,  Nernst heat theorem.

 

9.00
Unit IV: 
: Distribution of molecular velocities

Distribution law of molecular velocities, Most probable, Average and RMS velocities, energy distribution function, Experimental verification of Maxwell velocity distribution, Principle of equipartition of energy.

Mean free path and collision cross section, distribution of mean free path, Transport of mass, momentum and energy and their interrelationship, (coefficient of viscosity, thermal conductivity & diffusion)

10.00
Unit V: 
Classical Statistics :

Phase space, micro and macro states, Thermodynamic probability, relation between entropy and thermodynamic probability, Monatomic ideal gas, specific heat capacity of diatomic gas and specific heat of solids.

Quantum Statistics :

Failure of classical statistics (Blackbody radiation and various laws of distribution of radiation, qualitative discussion of Weins and Rayleigh Jeans Law) Postulates of quantum statistics, Indistinguishability of wave function and exchange degeneracy, Bose Einstein statistics and its distribution function,. Planck’s distribution function and radiation formula, Fermi Dirac statistics and its distribution function.

 

Essential Readings: 
  1. “Heat and Thermodynamics”, Singhal, Agarwal and Prakash , Pragati Prakashan.
  2. “Heat and Thermodynamics”, Brijlal  and Subramaniam, S. Chand & Sons.
  3. “Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics”, S.L.Kakani, Sultan Chand & Sons.

Suggested Reading:

  1.  “Statistical and Thermal Physics”, S. Loknathan and R.S. Gambhir, Prentice Hall, New Delhi 1991.
  2.  “Thermodynamics, kinetic theory of gases and Statistical Mechanics”, F.W.Sears, G.L.Salinger,    Narosa Pub. House.
  3.   “Introduction to Statistical Mechanics”, B.B. Laud, Mc Milan India Ltd.
  4. “Fundamentals of Statistical and Thermal Physics”, Federick Reif, Tata Mc Graw Hill, 1992.
  5. “Heat and Thermodynamics”, M.S.Yadav, Anmol Publications.
  6.  “Fundamentals of Statistical Physics”, A.K. Das Gupta, New Central Book Company, Calcutta, 2003.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Academic Year: 
2022-2023
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