FY550: Statistical Physics
Comment
Entry requirements
Academic preconditions
Students taking the course are expected to:
- Have knowledge of basic thermodynamics, electromagnetism and quantum mechanics (a course in the latter should be followed at the latest simultaneously).
Course introduction
(or emergent) properties of physical systems, which is important in
regard to understanding the behavior of matter.
Philosophy of science aspects are included in a discussion of how to move between levels of description, e.g., by deduction from the more fundamental level. In particular, the inherent knowledge loss of chaotic dynamics is used to bridge deterministic and statistical model descriptions and to justify the main axiom of equilibrium statistical physics and thermodynamics.
builds on the knowledge acquired in the courses FT500, FT504 and quantum mechanics, and it provides aknowledge base for later courses in for instance condensed matter physics (hard and soft), statistical physics, astrophysics and computational physics.
In relation to the competence profile of the degree it is the explicit focus of the course to:
- Give the competence to use statistical methods
- Give skills to model physical systems.
- Give knowledge and understanding of the examples discussed.
Applications:
This course introduces the fundamental rules that describe how particles interact to collectively form matter on macroscopic scales, and thus provides ways to understand and calculate properties of matter. It therefore relates to many sustainability topics: The concept of temperature, for instance, is cardinal to the problems we are facing with climate change, and the roots of the subject (thermodynamics) goes back to steam engines and the need to understand how to efficiently convert between different forms of energy.
Expected learning outcome
The learning objective of the course is that the student demonstrates the ability to:
- use thermodynamical and statistical mechanical arguments to describe and solve physical problems.
Content
- Thermodynamics and statistical mechanics
- Classical and quantum ideal gases, Boltzmann, Fermi-Dirac and Bose-Einstein statistics
- Crystal vibrations, black-body radiation
- Phase-transitions in classical and quantum mechanical systems
Literature
Examination regulations
Exam element a)
Timing
Tests
Written exam
EKA
Assessment
Grading
Identification
Language
Duration
Examination aids
All common aids are allowed e.g. books, notes, computer programmes which do not use internet etc.
Internet is not allowed during the exam. However, you may visit the course site in itslearning to open system "DE-Digital Exam". If you wish to use course materials from itslearning, you must download the materials to your computer the day before the exam. During the exam you cannot be sure that all course materials is accessible in itslearning.
ECTS value
Additional information
The examination form for re-examination may be different from the exam form at the regular exam.
Indicative number of lessons
Teaching Method
At the faculty of science, teaching is organized after the three-phase model ie. intro, training and study phase.
- Intro phase (video lectures): 23 hours (not scheduled)
- Training phase (tutorials): 46 hours
In the skills training phase the students will have the opportunity to work with the concepts and methods presented in the intro phase by solving specific problems.
Activities in the study phase:
- Solving surplus problems (if any) from the tutorials.
- Self-study of the textbook.
- Preparation for the exam.