Description
Prerequisite: General Physics I (PHYS 2040) or equivalent; General Physics II (PHYS 2041) or equivalent; Classical and Quantum Waves (PHYS 3543) or an equivalent intermediate physics course; and Multivariable Mathematics: Linear Algebra, Vector Calculus, and Differential Equations (MATH 3516) taken previously or concurrently. We encounter temperature on a daily basis when we check our weather apps and have undoubtedly heard discussions about the greenhouse effect and Earth’s warming climate. But what do scientists mean by warming? How can they model it? And what even is temperature? In this course, we will dig into the fascinating world of thermal physics, which is important for delving into many more advanced topics in physics, geosciences, or chemistry. Topics will include: thermodynamics, including energy, temperature, work, heat, and ideal gases; statistical mechanics, including entropy, partition functions, distributions, chemical potential, nonideal gases, bosonic gas, and fermio