Advanced Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics with Laboratory I

4 units · Graduate courses (200-299)

Lecture, two and one half hours; discussion, one hour; laboratory, 90 minutes. Requisites: courses 110A, 110B or 156, 113A, Mathematics 33A, with grades of C– or better. Presentation of fundamentals of classical thermodynamics. Principles of statistical thermodynamics: probability, ensembles, partition functions, independent molecules, and perfect gas. Applications of classical and statistical thermodynamics selected from diatomic and polyatomic gases, solid and fluid states, phase equilibria, electric and magnetic effects, ortho-para hydrogen, chemical equilibria, reaction rates, imperfect gas, nonelectrolyte and electrolyte solutions, surface phenomena, high polymers, gravitation. May be concurrently scheduled with course C123A. Letter grading.