Fall 2012

General references:

Mathworld

Wikipedia: thermodynamics, statistical thermodynamics, statistical mechanics, ...

Compendium of sites for Stat Mech & Thermo, also Nano, Quantum

Hyperphysics subsite on Heat & Thermodynamics: lots of nice calculational modules

Chap. 1

Heat capacity (wikipedia)

Thermodynamic equilibrium

Clear, succinct, elementary discussion of thermal expansion

Coefficients of linear expansion of the elements

Cute applet about heat capacity

Chap. 2:

Permutations and combinations, elementary review and alternative, with binomial coefficients

Combinations (wikipedia, terse)

Binomial distribution applet

Binomial and normal distributions, from Rice U.

Binomial calculator

Stirling's approximation (wikipedia)

Applets for 2-level system and rotating dimer (scroll down past formalism!)

Chap. 2-3, entropy:

Applet of bouncing ball and entropy

Extensive, non-technical discussion of entropy

Long discussion of entropy claiming to clarify common misconceptions

Discussion of entropy

Doug Craigen's thought-provoking comments: Entropy and Evolution and Later Summary Notes

Heat flow

Diffusion applet and much fancier simulation

Chap. 4, Heat Engines:

Carnot cycle

Refrigeration cycle, qualitative

Oversimplified p-V diagram for refrigeration

Otto cycle-car engine, animated

Otto cycle with p-V diagram, re Wright brothers

Otto and Diesel with animated p-V diagram

Two-stroke engine, animated

Diesel engine, animated

Wankel engine, animated

Lattice Vibrations:

Phonon dispersion and display of TA and TO modes in 1D (excellent java app)

Phonon dispersion in various crystals

Phonon density of states via "debye"

Equilibration of Einstein solids

Random walk simulation

1D random walk and applications to semiconductor junctions

Chap. 5, Chemistry:

Chemical equilibrium

Chap. 6, Classical Statistical Mechanics :

Maxwell 2D speed distribution, basic

Maxwell 2D speed distribution, fancier

Maxwell 3D speed distribution

Maxwell 3D speed distribution: plots and discussion

Chap. 7, Radiation:

Black body spectrum, inc. total emitted power

Black body radiation spectrum

Stellar spectra

Fowler discussion of blackbody radiation

Cute applet on Einstein A & B coefficients

Fermi distribution: temperature dependence

Fermi surfaces of actual metals

Chap. 7, Phonons:

Phonons (1D, longitudinal) also shows real dispersion, crystal momentum

Phonon applet (1D, 2-atom basis, transverse)

Dispersion for 3D fcc lattice with nearest-neighbor spring coupling--see last page (NB: German text)

Einstein and Debye model C and DOS

Chap. 7, Bose-Einstein condensation and liquid helium II:

Liquid Helium II, Superfluid, lambda transition

Liquid Helium II, Superfluid, Segment 1 of 6

Liquid Helium II, Superfluid, Segment 2 of 6

Liquid Helium II, Superfluid Segment 3 of 6: zero viscosity

Liquid Helium II the superfluid (Segment 4: The fountain effect)

Liquid Helium II, Superfluid, Segment 5 of 6: superfluid creep and second sound

Liquid Helium II, Superfluid, Segment 6 of 6: second sound (redundant to segment 5)

Long video on liquid helium

BEC Rb atoms by U. Colorado

Chap. 8, Ising model and Monte Carlo

Ising model, 2D, nice and easy to run

Ising model, lots of controls

Ising applet with adjustable dimensions and boundary conditions, as well as usual controls

3D Ising model , lots of nice controls

Spin waves, illustration

Phase changes, applets

Broken symmetry and order parameters (by J. Sethna)

Hysteresis (by J. Sethna)

Hysteresis simulation

Phase separation--dramatic movie

Centennial of Alfred Wegener's Continental Drift Theory

Last updated Dec. 5, 2012