Subject Code: Subject Name: Thermal Physics L-T-P: 3-0-0 Credit: 3
Pre-requisite(s): None
 

Basics of Thermodynamics: The zeroth law – thermodynamic system, macro vs micro states, equilibrium. The first law – Internal energy, state & path functions, work & heat, thermodynamic quantities. Thermodynamic processes – Quasistatic & reversible processes, Carnot cycle & engines. The second law – Carnot’s theorem, Refrigerators, Heat engines, Clausius’ theorem, heat transfer, Joule expansion, Gibb’s paradox. Free energy – Thermodynamic potentials, Maxwell’s relations. Statistical Mechanics of simple systems: Idea of partition function, Paramagnetic solids, simple harmonic oscillators, Polyatomic ideal gases. Thermodynamics of radiation: Photons – EM eigenmodes of a container, statistical properties & peculiarities. Blackbody radiation – Plank’s law, failure of classical theory, Stefan-Boltzmann’s law. Thermodynamics of a real gases: Statistical study of a fluid – Van der Waals gases, effective potential, thermodynamic quantities. Gas-Liquid phase transition – Van der Waals isotherms, Helmholtz free energy, Liquid-vapour equilibrium, Co-existence of two phases, entropy variation, Clausius-Clapeyron equation. Determination of the coefficient of thermal conductivity by Lee’s Disc method.



Text/Reference Books:
  1. A.M. Steane, Thermodynamics, a complete undergraduate course, Oxford University Press 2017
  2. S.J. Blundell & K.M. Blundell, Concepts in Thermal Physics, Oxford University Press 2009