Syllabus

Module 1: (8 hours)
Basic Concept: Concept of thermodynamic state, Thermodynamic limit, The ideal gas, extensive and intensive variables. Heat and heat capacities, Concept of probability for continuous and discrete distributions, Zeroth law of thermodynamics and thermal equilibrium. Brief discussion on microstates, macrostates, and statistical definition of temperature. Qualitative idea of microcanonical, canonical ensembles. Boltzmann factor from canonical ensemble.

Module 2: (10 hours)
Kinetic theory and transport properties of gases: Maxwell-Boltzmann (MB) speed distribution and mean kinetic energy of an ideal gas, most probable velocity, pressure expression from kinetic theory, ideal gas law, molecular flux and effusion rate, Collision cross section, mean collision time and mean free path, coefficient of viscosity, thermal conductivity, thermal diffusion equation, Newton’s law of cooling.

Module 3: (12 hours)
Equilibrium and work: thermodynamic equilibrium, state function, definition of work, quasi-static, isobaric and isochoric processes, work in a hydrostatic system, isothermal compressibility. First law: statement of first law, heat capacity of an ideal and non-ideal gas, reversibility, isothermal expansion or compression of an ideal gas, adiabatic expansion of an ideal gas. Second law: various statements and equivalence, Carnot engine and theorem, heat engines, refrigerator, heat pump, Clausius’s theorem, definition of entropy, irreversible changes and entropy, Joule expansion. Entropy and probability.

Module 4: (4 hours)
Thermodynamic Potentials: Thermodynamic potentials, Helmholtz, Enthalpy, Gibbs, grand potential, Maxwell’s relations, stability of equilibrium state. Third law: Different statements of third law, consequences of third law.

Module 5: (12 hours)
Statistical Thermodynamics of classical systems: Equipartition theorem and application, partition function and function of the state, Density of states, Functions of state of the ideal gas, Gibbs paradox, Heat capacity of a diatomic gas, definition and meaning of chemical potential, Grand partition function and grand potential, Chemical potential and chemical reactions, Latent heat, chemical potential and phase changes, First order phase transition single component systems, Clausius-Clapeyeron equation, Phase diagram and Triple point, multicomponent systems, Gibbs phase rule, Classification of phase transitions. Thermodynamics of real gases. Radiation: Energy density and pressure of radiation, Blackbody radiation and Kirchhoff’s law, Blackbody (Cavity) radiation as a thermodynamic system.

To learn the fundamental aspects of thermodynamics, including thermodynamic systems and properties.

To learn the kinetic theory of gases and the transport phenomenon involved in ideal gases.

To learn the laws of thermodynamics along with the concepts of temperature, internal energy, heat, and entropy.

To learn the thermodynamic potentials and their physical interpretations.

To understand the foundation of statistical mechanics of ideal gas and classification of phase transitions.

At the end of the course, students will be able to:
CO1: Explain the fundamental concepts relevant to thermodynamics.

CO2: Understand the basic aspects of the kinetic theory of gases, the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution law, and the transport phenomenon in ideal gases.

CO3: Gain knowledge on the first and the second law of thermodynamics, the concept of entropy, the working of Carnot’s ideal heat engine, Carnot cycle and its efficiency.

CO4: Develop the concept of thermodynamic potentials, the formulation of Maxwell’s equations and its applications.

CO5: Analyze the nature of phase transitions in terms of simple thermodynamic variables.

M. W. Zemansky and R. Dittman, Heat and Thermodynamics, McGraw-Hill Ltd. , 7th Edition (2007).

S. J. Blundell and K. M. Blundell, Concepts in Thermal Physics, Oxford University Press , 2nd Edition (2010).

H. B. Callen., Thermodynamics and an Introduction to Thermostatistics, John Wiley & Sons , 2nd Edition (2006).

L. B. Loeb, Kinetic Theory of Gases, Dover Publications Inc. , 3rd Edition (2004).