PY3P06
Module PY3P06 Dynamical Systems
Cohort: JS Physics
Credits: 5
Lecturers: Professors J. McGilp, J. Pethica
Duration: Michaelmas Term, Statistical Thermodynamics: 16 lectures, Mechanics of Matter: 14 lectures
Assesment: End of Year Exam.
Description:
Part I: Statistical Thermodynamics: The purpose of this course is to give students a deeper understanding of thermodynamics and its microscopic counterpart, statistical mechanics. Topics covered: (1) Counting states in classical and quantum systems, and the fundamental assumption of statistical physics. (2) Ensembles, systems of 2-state components, entropy, temperature and chemical potential. (3) Partition functions and their relation to thermodynamic quantities.
(4) Fermi-Dirac and Bose-Einstein Statistics. (5) Quasi-classical statistics and equipartition of energy. (6) Application of quantum statistics to photons, gases, and solids.
Part II: Mechanics of Matter: Atomic origins: inter-atomic potentials and forces, virial expansion, deformation. Elasticity: Young's modulus, stress and strain, hydrostatic and shear components. Beyond elasticity: Breakdown of Hooke’s law, plasticity, dislocations, work hardening, energy dissipation and friction. Liquids: Fluid flow, boundary layers, atomic and molecular characteristics. Gases. Mechanics in practice at different scales.