Course Number: Phys 3040
Course Name: Thermal Physics
Credits: 3 Cr
Instructor: Robert McQueeney rmcqueen@iastate.edu
PreReq: Credit in MATH 2660 or MATH 2670 and PHYS 2320/L or PHYS 2420/H.
Course Description
PHYS 3040 explores the concepts of temperature, entropy, and other characteristic thermodynamic functions and how they apply to macroscopic properties of matter. This course is offered in the Spring semester.
Topics covered include:
- The Laws of Thermodynamics
- An introduction to statistical mechanics, including quantum statistics
- Black body radiation
- Crystalline vibrations
- Magnetic ions in solids
- Electronic heat capacity of metals.
- Phase transformations and chemical reactions