PHY 176: Thermal Physics.
General Information
Prerequisites:
Mathematics 103 or equivalent and Physics 51L,52L or
equivalent.
Instructor:
Bob Behringer, Duke Phone: 660-2550, bob@phy.duke.edu.
Time and Place: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 10:20-11:10 AM
in Physics 150.
TA: Chenglin Cao, cc125@phy.duke.edu.
Instructor Office Hours: Mondays 3:30-4:30 and Wednesdays 11:10
-12:10, Rm. 095 Physics.
TA Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday, 4:00-5:00, room 151
or 092 Physics. (Office Phone:
660-2488).
Main Text: Charles Kittel and Herbert Kroemer,
Thermal Physics.
Suggested supplemental texts:
- Herbert Callen, Thermodynamics and ain Introduction to
Thermostatistics, 2nd ed.
- F. Sears and G. Salinger, Thermodynamics, Kinetic Theory, and
Statistical Thermodynamics
- R. Baierlein, Thermal Physics.
Grades: Grades will be assigned according to the
following weighted average:
- Problem Sets: 25%
- Two Hour Exams: 20% each
- Final exam: 25%
- Research paper (5-10 pages--to be discussed): 10%
Academic Integrity
- Collaborating on the problem sets by
discussing approaches is OK, but please remember that you learn from
these mostly by struggling through them for yourself. Do not let
others solve them for you. Also, it pays to start early; sleeping on
a problem is often a useful step when confused.
Notes
Syllabus