Thermodynamics and statistical physics

Paper Code: 
PHY-311
Credits: 
3
Contact Hours: 
45.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 

This course will enable the students to -

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 311

Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics (Theory)

 

This course will enable the students to -

CO68: Acquire working knowledge of the zeroth and first law of thermodynamics, identify the relationship and correct usage of infinitesimal work, work, energy, heatcapacity, specific heat, latent heat, and enthalpy.

 

CO69: Identify which procedure to be used to produce low temperature and to analyze the difference between Liquid He I and He II.

 

CO70: Understand the concepts of microstate, macrostate, ensemble, phase space, thermodynamic probability and partition function.

 

CO71: Learn advanced topics related to Quantum Statistical Mechanics and use the partition function for calculations about the canonical ensemble.

 

CO72: Get acquainted with advanced topics such as the Fermi energy of a system of Non-interacting Fermions and its relation to the chemical potential

Approach in teaching:

Interactive Lectures, Discussion, Tutorials, Reading assignments, Demonstration, Team teaching

 

 

 

Learning activities for the students:

Self learning assignments, Effective questions, Simulation, Seminar presentation, Giving tasks.

Class test, Semester end examinations, Quiz, Solving problems in tutorials, 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: 
  • “Heat and Thermodynamics”, Singhal, Agarwal and Prakash ,PragatiPrakashan.
  • “Heat and Thermodynamics”, Brijlal  andSubramaniam, S. Chand & Sons.
  • “Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics”, S.L.Kakani, Sultan Chand & Sons.
  • “Statistical and Thermal Physics”, S. Loknathan and R.S. Gambhir, Prentice Hall, New Delhi 1991.
  •  “Thermodynamics, kinetic theory of gases and Statistical Mechanics”, F.W.Sears, G.L.Salinger, Narosa Pub. House.
  •  “Introduction to Statistical Mechanics”, B.B. Laud, Mc Milan India Ltd.
  • “Fundamentals of Statistical and Thermal Physics”, FederickReif, Tata Mc Graw Hill, 1992.
  • “Heat and Thermodynamics”, M.S.Yadav, Anmol Publications.
  •  “Fundamentals of Statistical Physics”, A.K. Das Gupta, New Central Book Company, Calcutta, 2003
Academic Year: 
2018-2019
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