Physics 360 Fall 2007

General Information

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Kevin Crosby
DSC 204 x5855
kcrosby@carthage.edu
http://personal.carthage.edu/kcrosby
Office Hours: MWF 3-4; TR 10-11AM

Course Prerequisites

PHYS 204, MATH 113

Textbooks and other Resources

Required Texts:

Software Used in the Course:

Course Description

Statistical mechanics is the study of the aggregate properties of a large number of interacting objects. These objects may be atoms, molecules, stars or galaxies. Statistical mechanics finds applications across the spectrum of scientific inquiry, from protein folding to the distribution of matter in the universe. This course will Introduce the concepts, formalism, and applications of classical and quantum statistical mechanics, including thermodynamics and illustrate some of the modern applications of Stat. Mech.

A theory is the more impressive the greater the simplicity of its premises, the more different kinds of things it relates, and the more extended its area of applicability. Therefore the deep impression that classical thermodynamics made upon me. It is the only physical theory of universal content which I am convinced will never be overthrown.
-A. Einstein

 

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Requirements

Meetings and Attendance

We meet from 9:15-10:20 MWF in DSC 109. It is essential that you read the relevant text material before class: Class exercises and discussions will be structured around the reading assignments. Notes and homework solutions will be posted on the Blackboard site for this course.

As you know by now, attendance and active participation in class are essential to success in physics courses.  Please come to class with questions and reading notes!

Homework

There are 60 collected homework problems assigned in this course.  Homework is due on each Monday. The homework problems constitute the bulk (75%) of the course grade.  As such, your write-ups should reflect a considerable investment of your time in crafting detailed and complete solutions. Solutions should consist of sufficient explanatory detail to make it clear that you understand the mathematics and concepts. USE WORDS TO DESCRIBE YOUR LOGIC. Equations alone are usually not sufficient to convey meaning. The mathematics should be logically developed in a clear and complete sequence of steps. Problem assignments are on the course schedule. Homework problems are due in class on the first class day of each week.  Late homework is not accepted so that solutions may be made available in a timely manner. While collaboration is encouraged, each student should submit homework write-ups that reflect their own understanding of the problems. 

2-1-0 Scoring Key for homework

Each homework assignment will be graded on a 0-2 point scale described below.  Remember that homework is the most essential activity in this course.  Doing lots and lots of problems is the only way to master this material.

Score 2: Fully Meeting Expectations  Your work is essentially correct and free of most major errors.  Your work is meeting my expectations.  You should quickly check the posted solutions and resolve any differences that might exist.  

Score 1: Nearly Meeting Expectations  Your work is missing some important components or has some important errors that need to be resolved before you can progress.  Please take a careful look at the posted answer key and then arrange a few minutes to talk individually with me as soon as possible. 

Score 0: Insufficient Effort  Your work was not submitted according to the directions or no meaningful attempt is evident in your work.  Please see me as soon as possible. 

Score 3: Advanced Level  Your work is unusually exemplary and goes far beyond my expectations for this particular assignment.  This score is rarely assigned and you
should be very proud of your efforts. 

Important Note: You should strive to earn a “2-score” on every assignment.  A consistent 2-score will earn an A for this portion of the grade.  Please do not assume that a 2-score represents a 67% grade or that a 1-score represents a 33% grade; rather the scores are intended to describe the degree to which students are meeting performance expectations.  I reserve the right to assign a score of 3 on some assignments.  I use this score very, very rarely to reward highly distinguished work.

Exams

There will be two in-class exams and a comprehensive final exam. Each exam is 5% of the overall course grade. The exams are open-book and open-notes format. Exams may not be made up. If a medical emergency causes you to miss an exam, the missed points will be added to your Final Exam. Documentation is required.

Projects

Each student will work independently on a project under the supervision of the instructor. These projects will be presented to the class during the last week of the course. A written report of approximately 6-10 pages will be due on the day of presentation. Details of the project can be found under the "Projects" link on the blackboard site.  

Computers

I will make use of physics simulations and other computer teaching tools in the course.   Many of the homework problems require the use of Mathematica and/or Excel.  Interactive computer-based exercises may be assigned.  If you are not comfortable with computers and/or the web let me know and we can work together to get you up to speed.

Blackboard

http://blackboard.carthage.edu
You will be required to enroll in this Physics course on Blackboard. You can find it in Blackboard's Course Catalog in the Physics folder. There, you will find announcements, supplementary course materials, and communication capability with the instructor and fellow students. Course evaluations will also be administered through Blackboard.

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Grading and Policies

Academic Honesty

Students are bound by the terms of the Carthage College Academic Honesty Contract in the Student Handbook. Any act of academic dishonesty is sufficient cause for failure of the course.

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Course Calendar

Week

Dates

     Topic 

Section Reading

Homework Problems (50)

1

9/5, 9/7

Course Introduction; Temperature; The Ideal Gas; In Class: Physlet Ex. 20.1, Gas Properties

1.1,1.2              

7,8,10,11,16

2

9/10-9/14

Ideal Gas; Equipartition; Heat and Work; In Class: In Class: Physlet Ex. 20.4

1.2,1.3,1.4          

20,22*, 25, 28

3

9/17-9/21

Compression and Work; Heat Capacities; In Class: Physlet Ex. 20.5, 20.6

1.5,1.6          

31,34,37,40*, 41,53

4

9/24-9/28

Entropy; Two State Systems; Einstein Model of Solids (a good reference)

2.1,2.2,2.3     

1,3,8,9

5

10/1-10/5

Interacting Systems; Large Systems; Ideal Gas

2.4.2.5            

16,19,24,25,28

6

10/8-10/12

Temperature; Entropy and Heat; Paramagnetism

3.1,3.2,3.3       

7,13,16,23,25, EXAM I

7

10/15-10/19

Mechanical Equilibrium; Diffusive Equilibrium;

3.4, 3.5             

28,29,32,33,37

8

10/22-10/26

Heat Engines

4.1, 4.2,4.3       

2,3,5,8,9,10,13

9

10/29-11/2

Briefly: Free Energy, Phase Transformations; Boltzmann Factor; Average Values

 6.1, 6.2, 6.3            

3,5,6,15,20,24

10

11/5-11/9

Equipartition Again!, Maxwell Distribution;

 6.3, 6.4        

27,33,39, Project Topics Due

11

11/12-11/16

Partition Function and Free Energy; Ideal Gas

6.5,6.7 

42,48, EXAM II

 

11/19-11/23

Thanksgiving Break

 

 

12

11/26-11/30

Gibbs Sum; Bosons and Fermions 

7.1,7.2,7.3               

3,4,5,19,20,23

13

12/3-12/7

Cosmology and Statistical Mechanics

7.4

Project Presentations

14

12/10

    Project Presentations

Necessary revisions will be distributed in class.

 

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