Course Objective: The objective of the first part of the course is to infuse ideas of the Kinetic theory of gases, Thermodynamic laws, Thermodynamic potentials, and the Theory of radiation. The second part is devoted to giving a basic introduction to Statistical Mechanics.
Kinetic Theory of Gases
Objective of the theory (Knowledge of a macroscopic system from its microscopic constituents), Classical ideal gas and the ideal gas law, The basic postulates of the kinetic theory, Mean free path, Collision probability, The kinetic interpretation of pressure P, Relation between pressure and translational kinetic energy of the molecules, Kinetic interpretation of temperature - the average molecular kinetic energy is proportional to the absolute temperature, Derivation of Maxwell's law of distribution of velocities and its experimental verification, Mean free path (Zeroth Order), Transport Phenomena: Viscosity, Conduction and Diffusion (for vertical case), Law of equipartition of energy (no derivation) and its applications to specific heat of gases; mono-atomic and diatomic gases.
Laws of Thermodynamics
Thermodynamic Description of a system,Zeroth Law of thermodynamics and temperature, First law and internal energy, conversion of heat into work, Various Thermodynamical Processes, Applications of First Law: General Relation between CP and CV, Work done during isothermal and adiabatic processes, Compressibility and expansion Coefficients, Reversible and irreversible processes, Second law and Entropy, Carnot's cycle & theorem, Entropy changes in reversible & irreversible processes, Entropy-temperature diagrams, Third law of thermodynamics, Unattainability of absolute zero.
Thermodynamic Potentials
Enthalpy, Gibbs free energy, Helmholtz free energy and Internal energy functions, Maxwell's relations and applications - Joule-Thompson Effect, Clausius-Clapeyron Equation, Expression for (CP- CV),CP/CV, TdS equations.
Theory of Radiation
Blackbody radiation, Spectral distribution, Concept of energy density, Derivation of Planck's law, Wien's distribution law, Rayleigh-Jeans Law, Stefan Boltzmann Law and Wien's displacement law from Planck's law.
Statistical Mechanics
Maxwell-Boltzmann law - distribution of velocity – Quantum statistics - Phase space - Fermi- Dirac distribution law - electron gas - Bose-Einstein distribution law - photon gas - comparison of three statistics.
Course Outcome: Upon completion of this course, the students will grasp the idea of laws of thermodynamics, the Blackbody the basics of Statistical mechanics.
MINOR IV: PHYS4021: Thermal Physics
List of Experiments [Viva Questions here]
1. To determine the Stefan's Constant
2. To determine the coefficient of thermal conductivity of Cu by Searle's Apparatus
3. To determine the coefficient of thermal conductivity of a bad conductor by Lee and Charlton's disc method
4. To determine the temperature co-efficient of resistance by Platinum resistance thermometer
5. To study the variation of thermo- emf across two junctions of a thermocouple with temperature
6. To determine the coefficient of thermal expansion of a metallic rod using optical lever
7. To determine the coefficient of thermal expansion of a metallic rod by travelling microscope
8. To determine the pressure coefficient of air by constant volume air thermometer
9. To determine the temperature coefficient of resistance using Carry Foster Bridge