Phys404 – Introduction to Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics

Fall 2007

Dr. Bei Lok Hu

TA Information
Ryan Behunin
rbehunin@umd.edu
Office 4210, Phone: 301-405-6191

12/12

1) (reminder) HW9 is due by 4pm Friday Dec 14 (-- see earlier announcement on where to bring it) . Solution for it will be posted by 6pm

2) You can pick up your graded homework from Ryan: HW8 is now available in an envelope outside my office and HW9 on Monday Dec. 17.

3) 15 points will be added to your (nonzero valued) second midterm exam score for reasons explained in class.

4) Tally your own scores for all HWs and MTs. Ryan will bring a score sheet to the final exam so, if you need to, you can verify the numbers with him.

5) Final exam on Tue. Dec. 18 from 1:30-3:30pm in 1402. You are allowed to bring one new formula sheet in addition to the two you had. Total scores and course grades are expected to be tallied and submitted by Dec 20.

Good Luck on all of your exams. Have a nice holiday with your family and friends.

Prof Hu and Ryan

12/04

Homework 8 Due Dec 11

KK Chap 9 # 2, 3, 5; KK Chap 10 # 1, 4, 5, 7

Homework 9

KK Chap 14 # 1, 2, 4, 5, 6
Due Friday Dec 14 -- please bring completed homework either to Ryan's office or to the physics mailroom before 4pm (Ask Al to place it in Ryan's mailbox.) Solution will be posted on the web at 5pm so you can study it in the weekend for the final exam

11/21 Second midterm exam on Tue Nov 27 in class, covering materials in lecture and readings corresponding to KK Chapters 4, 5, 6, 7. It goes without saying that it also includes materials in earlier chapters, KK Chapters 1-3, 8 (for example, Problems KK Ch. 8 # 9, 10)

Please bring a non-programmable calculator to the exam. You are allowed one formula sheet 8.5 x 11 written on both sides, but be forewarned that merely transcribing formulas without explanation will not earn you any credit. Using your precious time before the exam to review for the exam material is far more productive than meticulous preparation for the formula sheet.

11/7 Homework 7 is now available note that it is different from Course Content. It is due November 15, 07.

10/30 Homework 6 is now available. It is due November 8, note that this is earlier than stated in the syllabus.

10/24 Homework 5 is now posted. Please do KK problems 3, 7, 8, 10. 13 from chapter 5 as well as the linked problem.

10/23 Solutions to the first midterm are available.

10/16 Graded Homework 3 can be picked up from phys 4210. The homework will be in an envelope outside the door if the door is closed.

10/16  The First Midterm Exam is Thursday Oct. 18 during the class period. You are allowed

to bring a nonprogrammable calculator and a formula sheet 8.5 x11", two sided.

(Please don't try to squeeze in lengthy derivations from the book,

the lectures or homework on the sheet or store them in your calculator.

It defeats the purpose of an exam, which is not only to test how much

you have learned but also help you gauge your understanding of the

course materials.)

10/16  Homework Set 4 is available.

10/3  Homework Set 3 is now available.

9/28 Homework Set 2 and Solutions for Homework 1 are now available.

Thermodynamic Identity: By using conservation of energy one can equate the change in a system's internal energy with the heat added to it plus the work done on it by the environment (this is the convention used by Schroeder). It is entirely equivalent to say that the change in a system's internal energy is the heat added minus the work done by the system on the environment (this is the standard notation used by physicists). Considering quasistatic changes in the internal energy then leads naturally to the thermodynamic identity if one identifies the heat with TdS. For more information see page 18 of Schroeder.

9/7 Homework Set 1 is now available for download.