Thermodynamics, Kinetic Theory, and Statistical Mechanics I

Basic probability and statistics for random processes such as random walks. The derivation of laws of thermodynamics from basic postulates; the determination of the relationship between atomic substructure and macroscopic behavior of matter. Temperature; equations of state, heat, internal energy, equipartition; entropy, Gibbs paradox; equilibrium and reversibility; heat engines; applications to various properties of matter; absolute zero and low-temperature phenomena. Distribution functions, fluctuations, the partition function for classical and quantum systems, and irreversible processes. Pre- or corequisite: PHYSICS 130. In 2023-24 Physics 170 will be given in the Winter quarter.