| LEC # | TOPICS | KEY DATES |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction Probability density, Cumulative probability | P: One Random Variable (1st half) |
| 2 | Probability examples, Averages, Poisson distribution | P: One Random Variable (2nd half) |
| 3 | Two random variables, Conditional probability | P: Two Random Variables (1st half) |
| 4 | Poisson distribution derived, jointly Gaussian random variables | P: Two Random Variables (2nd half) |
| 5 | Functions of a Random Variable | P: Functions of a Random Variable (1st half) |
| 6 | Functions of a Random Variable (more than one) | P: Functions of a Random Variable (2nd half) |
| 7 | Summation and convolution | P: Sums of Random Variables |
| 8 | Central Limit Theorem | P: Central Limit Theorem |
| 9 | Introduction to Thermodynamics, Zeroth Law, Empirical temperature | A: Ch. 1, 2 TS: pg. 1-3 |
| 10 | Temperature scale, Work | A: Ch. 1, 2 |
| 11 | Exact differentials, First Law of Thermodynamics | A: Ch. 3.1-3.6 |
| 12 | Ideal gas, Adiabatic path | B: Ch. 1 |
| 13 | Phase space, Equal a priori probabilities | |
| 14 | Microcanonical Ensemble, Entropy | B: Ch. 2, 4.3 ME: Sections 1-3 |
| 15 | Second Law of Thermodynamics, Examples using entropy | B: Ch 2. 4.3 ME: Sections 4-6 |
| 16 | Two level system | ME: Section 7 |
| 17 | Entropy as a state function | |
| 18 | Maxwell relations, Thermodynamic potentials | A: Ch. 7 MR: pg. 1-5 |
| 19 | Equivalent statements of the Second Law, Carnot Engine | B: Ch. 3 |
| 20 | Refrigerator, Heat pump, Other examples | A: Ch. 4 CE: pg. 1-4 |
| 21 | Canonical Ensemble, Boltzmann probability, Partition function | B: Ch. 5.1-5.2 |
| 22 | Monoatomic ideal gas calculation | B: Ch. 5.4-5.8 |
| 23 | B: Ch. 5.2 | |
| 24 | Equipartition, Polyatomic gas, Vibration & quantum harmonic oscillator | B: Ch. 13 |
| 25 | Finish harmonic oscillator, Molecular rotations | B: Ch. 13 |
| 26 | Finish rotations, Maxwell distribution | B: Ch. 13 |
| 27 | Paramagnetism | B: Ch. 5.2, 14.1-14.3 |
| 28 | Adiabatic demagnetism, 3rd Law of Thermodynamics, Thermal radiation | B: Ch. 14.4, 6 |
| 29 | Blackbody thermodynamics, Stephan-Boltzmann Law, Counting Modes | B: Ch. 6 |
| 30 | Classical and quantum blackbody u (ω,T) | B: Ch. 6 |
| 31 | Chemical potential | B: Ch. 7 |
| 32 | Indistinguishable particles, Symmetric vs. antisymmetric | B: Ch. 8 |
| 33 | Occupation number, Fermi gas | B: Ch. 8 |
| 34 | Fermi gas II | B: Ch. 9 |
| 35 | Neutron star | B: Ch. 9 |
| 36 | Bose-Einstein Condensation | B: Ch. 9 |
| 37 | Finish Bose-Einstein Condensation, Summary | B: Ch. 9 |
| Final Exam | ||
Table of Contents
Study Materials
Readings
 When you click the Amazon logo to the left of any citation and purchase the book (or other media) from Amazon.com, MIT OpenCourseWare will receive up to 10% of this purchase and any other purchases you make during that visit. This will not increase the cost of your purchase. Links provided are to the US Amazon site, but you can also support OCW through Amazon sites in other regions. Learn more. |
Listed in the table below are reading assignments for each lecture session.
A and B refer to the course textbooks:
A: Adkins, C.J. Equilibrium Thermodynamics. New York City, NY: Cambridge University Press, 1983. ISBN: 9780521274562.
B: Baierlein, Ralph. Thermal Physics. New York City, NY: Cambridge University Press, 1999. ISBN: 9780521658386.