Module Identifier PH31510  
Module Title THERMAL PHYSICS 2  
Academic Year 2007/2008  
Co-ordinator Dr Eleri Pryse  
Semester Semester 2  
Other staff Dr Tudor E Jenkins  
Pre-Requisite Core Physics Modules at Levels 1 & 2  
Course delivery Lecture   20 lectures  
  Seminars / Tutorials   2 workshops  
Assessment
Assessment TypeAssessment Length/DetailsProportion
Semester Exam2 Hours written examination  80%
Semester Assessment Course Work: 2 example sheets by semester week 5 and semester week 10  20%
Supplementary Exam2 Hours written examination100%

Learning outcomes

After taking this module students should be able to:


Brief description

This module aims to:
a) build on the introductory thermodynamics course, introducing such ideas as phase changes.
b) introduce phenomena that occur at low temperatures, and to explain these from both a macroscopic and a microscopic point of view.
c) introduce the concepts of statistical mechanics, and use these to investigate the properties of matter.

Content

THERMODYNAMICS
Thermodynamic potential - internal energy U, enthalpy H, Helmholtz function F and Gibbs function G and their physical significance.
The Maxwell relations.
Derivation of general thermodynamic relations for pure substances.
Phase transitions - first order and higher order transitions.
The attainment of absolute zero temperature.

STATISTICAL MECHANICS

Reading Lists

Books
** Recommended Text
C. Finn Thermal Physics Chapman Hall
D.H. Trevana Statistical Mechanics Ellis Horwood
** Supplementary Text
A. Kent Experimental Low-Temperature Physics MacMillan
P. Reidi Thermal Physics Oxford Scientific
T Guenault Statistical Physics

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 6