ELMHURST COLLEGE

PHYSICS 313 Thermodynamics
(http://www.elmhurst.edu/~earls/phy313/phy313.html)

If a person masters the fundamentals of his subject and has learned to think and work independently, he will surely find his way and besides will better be able to adapt himself to progress and changes than the person whose training principally consists in the acquiring of detailed knowledge.

The laws of thermodynamics, as empirically determined, . . . express the laws of mechanics for such systems as they appear to beings who have not the fineness of perception to enable them to appreciate quantities of the order of magnitude of those which relate to single particles, and who cannot repeat their experiments often enough to obtain any but the most probable results.

Physics 313 is a one-semester course designed to provide physics and engineering students with a working knowledge of fundamental thermodynamics and statistical mechanics at an intermediate level, preparing them for the study of advanced engineering thermodynamics or a typical graduate-level physics course in thermodynamics and statistical mechanics. Preparation for this course should include introductory physics as well as sufficient mathematical background to provide a good working knowledge of differential and integral calculus, partial differentiation, and some knowledge of differential equations. The course emphasizes the essential simplicity and coherence of thermodynamics and its statistical origins.

GOALS

Major Goals

1. To foster the ability to learn independently, increasing your capacity to acquire knowledge and understanding of new material on your own; for example, by reading books, magazines, newspapers, or scientific journals.

2. To help you acquire knowledge of physics - particularly, but not exclusively, thermodynamics and statistical mechanics - with some depth. Here the primary emphasis is on fundamental concepts, relationships, and theories, with secondary attention given to simple facts in the area of thermodynamics.

3. To promote the growth of understanding, so that you can analyze fairly complex situations, applying your knowledge of the principles of thermodynamics, in order to be able to make rational decisions. This includes developing an appreciation of the significance of probability and statistics.

4. To help you acquire numerous specific skills needed to make the other course goals meaningful and required for further study in physics or engineering. Examples of these are: the ability to make quick order-of-magnitude estimates ("guesstimates") and to recognize incorrect results; the capacity to "do algebra" efficiently and accurately; the ability to use calculus with confidence; the ability to interpret and solve (i.e., obtain solutions for) ordinary differential equations; proficiency at using computers; the ability to use probability and statistics effectively; the capacity to use a simple physical system as a model for understanding the behavior of a more complex system.

5. To encourage critical analytic thinking and logical reasoning coupled with keen physical intuition, capacities which are of great value in formal scientific research and most other areas of life.

6. To provide you with the pleasure and satisfaction which come from achieving a mastery of thermodynamics: an elegant, powerful, profoundly general, and practical branch of physics.

Subsidiary Goals

1. To provide opportunities for creative use of skills and insights described above.

2. To deepen your appreciation of "how science works": how scientific concepts develop and are joined into a theoretical structure; and, most important, how these structures are tested, validated, and extended.

3. To promote the growth of some of the intellectual attitudes, methods, and outlooks which characterize an able physicist or engineer.

4. To relate some of the knowledge and understanding which come from the study of thermodynamics and statistical mechanics to other areas of intellectual activity, such as astronomy, space science, biology, medicine, and perhaps even literature.

5. To encourage the development of the self-understanding which comes from a deeper understanding of the physical universe of which we are each a part.

6. To permit you to fulfill an important requirement for entry into creative work in contemporary physics and/or engineering.

RESOURCES

To aid us in achieving these goals, a number of important resources are available.

Texts

Introduction to Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics by Keith Stowe (John Wiley, 1984) is the primary "required" text.

Theory and Problems of Thermodynamics by M. M. Abbott and H. C. Van Ness (McGraw-Hill, Schaum's Outline, 2^nd edition, 1989) may prove helpful with problem solving.

Understanding Thermodynamics by H. C. Van Ness (Dover Publications, 1983) is a very helpful supplement which focuses on classical thermodynamics.

Use the library!

Handouts

You are reading the first of several (helpful?) handouts which will be provided during the semester.

Personal Assistance

This course is (or should be) a cooperative undertaking involving you, your fellow students, and me. I am happy to provide help outside the classroom when needed. As you probably know, my office is Room 012 in the Schaible Science Center (SC 012). Please stop by and visit. Information about my office hours is posted on my office door. My office phone, (630)-617-3577, has 24-hour voice mail service. When leaving a voice mail message, it is best to make it more informative than a simple "call me." My fax number on campus is (630)-617-3735. My email address is earls@elmhurst.edu, and my web page is at http://www.elmhurst.edu/~earls. Normally, I read my email quite frequently, even when I'm not on campus. I don't mind being called at home when there is a real need to do so, though reaching me there may not always be quick or easy. My home telephone number is (630)-627-1874. When I am working on research at Fermilab or elsewhere, I also post appropriate telephone numbers on my office door.

Overview and Objectives

To guide you in your efforts, I will give you an overview, indicating important ideas and how they are interrelated, at the start of each unit of study (usually a chapter in the text). In some cases, I will provide fairly explicit learning objectives, but in all cases, the assigned problems provide an implicit list of objectives.

EVALUATION

Your grade in this course will be based on your achievement in five areas of work: (1) assigned problems; (2) quizzes; (3) the final exam; (4) laboratory projects and reports; and (5) your term paper. Work in each of these individual areas will be graded on a (somewhat arbitrary) point system. Designating the fraction of the possible (assigned) points which you receive in area i by f_i, your final score in the course is given by the formula:

S = 100 (0.25 f₁ + 0.30 f₂ + 0.15 f₃ + 0.15 f₄ + 0.15 f₅).

If you get a score of 65 or above, you are assured of at least a C in the course; 80 or above, a B; and 90 or above, an A (WOW!!). With good steady effort, it is fairly easy to get a C, but you will need to really get your act together to earn an A or B. The following table summarizes the meaning of each letter grade in terms of level of academic achievement.

The formula tells you the minimum grade you will receive in the course. Several conditions could cause you to receive a higher grade. In assigning grades, I may lower the "break points" for some or all of the letter grades if I consider that this will more accurately reflect the achievements of the class as a whole. I may also exercise the option of adjusting an individual grade upward in recognition of truly outstanding achievement in some particular area of work (e.g., an outstanding term paper) or of exceptional interest, enthusiasm, or participation in class discussion, etc. You are responsible for keeping track of your scores in order to estimate how you are doing as the course progresses.

Problem Assignments

For each regular class meeting, you are expected to turn in three (3) problems from the chapter being covered or from problems suggested in class. Extra credit can be obtained by solving up to three (3) additional problems per week. This extra credit will, in any case, be limited to 20%; i.e., f₁ can be as high as 1.20, but not higher. Here's your chance to make hay! I will grade the problems on a basis of 10 points per problem with some possibility of partial credit, but if you really want to score, get it correct to the end. Except in cases of illness, etc., late problems will not be accepted. Clearly this system is aimed at generating questions in class, so let's hear it gang! Consistently doing problem assignments is essential to developing analytic skills, deepening physical insight, and really understanding the basic material of the course so that you can continue to move forward to more advanced levels.

Problems are to be turned in on 8-1/2" x 11" notebook paper, preferably with lines. Only one side is to be used. Odd sizes of paper or paper torn from spiral notebooks will not be accepted. Pages are to be numbered and clearly marked with course number, your name, and the date. You should clearly show on the first page which problems are being attempted, and solutions should normally be in numerical order. The actual solution must be written out in an orderly, logical fashion so that your work can be followed easily; otherwise no partial credit (and sometimes no credit) can be given. It must, of course, also be legible, and final answers must be clearly marked ("put in a box"). In other words, you are expected to do a reasonably professional job of preparing your problem solutions (and all of your work for that matter)! You are encouraged to work together to solve the problems. You should then turn in material which clearly reflects your own understanding of the problem solution. No "Xerox copies" accepted!

Quizzes

Three (3) "full-length" feature quizzes are scheduled to play at this theatre during the semester. In addition, there may be short impromptu quizzes at any time. You will be permitted the use of a single 8-1/2" x 11" sheet of notes on the scheduled quizzes - also a ruler, a calculator, a set of math tables, and/or a computer. You will not have the direct use of the text or a similar book.

Major concepts, techniques, and principles, and their applications, will be emphasized on the quizzes. Precision, clarity, and careful logical thinking will be stressed - not memorization. In addition to the usual problem-solving questions, there may be multiple choice, matching, or verbal response questions. These will usually deal with definitions of important concepts, technical terms, and units of measurement. You might be asked to state a basic principle or give an example to illustrate it. We will schedule these quizzes outside of regular class periods to reduce time pressure on you, and so we can make full use of class sessions. We may also consider the possibility of having one or more take-home tests.

Final Examination

A two-hour final exam will be given at the scheduled time. It will cover the entire semester's work, with some extra emphasis on material covered after the last scheduled quiz. The nature of the final, and the ground rules for it, will be essentially the same as the major quizzes.

Term Paper

A term paper - roughly 10 pages (typed, double spaced) in length - is required for this course. Any topic related to thermodynamics or statistical mechanics is, in principle, acceptable. You can explore a topic given little or no coverage in the course proper, go more deeply into one that is covered, discuss an interesting application of thermodynamics to another area of study, present the results of a special experiment you have performed, examine the history of a thermodynamic concept or principle, discuss a related set of theorems, analyze a system not discussed in detail in class, etc. The book "The Flying Circus of Physics" by J. Walker (John Wiley and Sons) is always a good place to look for interesting questions, puzzles, and paper topics. The choice of a topic is up to you, but you will fare much better if the topic is narrow and well-defined. (I will, of course, be glad to help and make suggestions.) The important point is that you use and/or discuss physics principles in the paper in a quantitative or semi-quantitative fashion. Assume that the audience for your paper is students who have completed a comparable course at another college.

You are to turn in one or two paragraphs describing your chosen topic (what you plan to write about it) on or before the "proposal" due date on the course schedule. This proposal should include a list of at least four (4) references which you plan to use in preparing your paper. This step is essential to your learning from this work and to my accepting the final paper for credit in the course.

Please recognize that the due date for the paper itself is somewhat before the end of the semester. It is important to have work on your paper "behind you" well before our final exam week arrives. This is to be a "for real" term paper with sentences, paragraphs, reference to primary sources, citation of references, and all that jazz. (Imagine that I plan to take it to the English Department for a grade.) Clear expression, logical organization, and proper syntax and grammar are essential! I will provide an example of a particularly simple, easy-to-use format for references, but any standard format is acceptable.

Note: please don't waste your money on a plastic cover or binder for your paper - simply staple it in the upper left corner. You are also strongly urged to use a computer word processor to prepare your term paper and other "essay" assignments. This facilitates correction and revision as well as providing you with broadly applicable experience using today's technology.

SOME HELPFUL REFERENCES

Some texts which might be helpful are the following:

M. Zemansky and R. Dittman, "Heat and Thermodynamics"; McGraw-Hill Book Co., 1981.

R. J. Finkelstein, "Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics"; W. H. Freeman, 1969.

A. L. King, "Thermophysics"; W. H. Freeman, 1962.

E. L. Knuth, "Introduction to Statistical Thermodynamics"; McGraw-Hill Book Co., 1966.

F. Reif, "Fundamentals of Statistical and Thermal Physics"; McGraw-Hill Book Co., 1965.

G. Weinreich, "Fundamental Thermodynamics"; Addison-Wesley Publishing Co., 1968.

R. P. Feynman, R. B. Leighton, M. Sands, "The Feynman Lectures on Physics"; Addison-Wesley Publishing Co., 1963.

Laboratory Activities

Your laboratory score will be based primarily on the written laboratory material turned in for each activity. Clarity of thought and expression, completeness, organization, and quality of error analysis are very important in the "lab reports." They need to be done in a way that would make it possible for someone else in a similar class elsewhere to replicate your experiment or analysis after reading what you have written. Better yet, think in terms of having to do that with someone else's work; then write what you would like to have for a description. The organization of the labs will be quite informal with plenty of freedom to choose when and how the work is done. We will discuss this further in class.

ACCOMMODATIONS

The College will make reasonable accommodations for persons with documented disabilities. If you have a disability that may have some impact on your work in this course, please contact the Director of Advising at Goebel Hall Room 103 [(630)-617-3450].

ATTENDANCE

In accord with general College policy as stated in the Elmhurst College Bulletin (a.k.a. the College Catalog), regular class attendance is expected and is a requirement for receiving a passing grade in this course. Class participation is an essential part of the course and contributes to your grade. If you must miss a course meeting, you must also take the responsibility for completing any assigned work for that day. Make-up tests will be given only in very special cases. (Anyone who dies during the course will be given one - and only one - make-up test.) Students who miss more than an occasional class invariably find it very difficult to earn a satisfactory grade. Note that you should normally also expect to devote at least two (2) or three (3) hours to course related work outside of class for each 50 minutes of scheduled regular class meeting time (excluding lab time).

WARNING

Academic Honesty is Essential! Academic honesty is a requirement for receiving a passing grade in this course. In your term paper, tests, problem solutions, etc., do not represent the work of someone else as your own. Any form of cheating is a serious offense, and the normal penalty is a failing grade in the course for all involved. This includes the student(s) who actually did the work! More severe action can and will be taken in extreme cases. In any case your reputation will be substantially damaged. I am obligated to report any instances of academic dishonesty to both the Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Dean of Student Affairs.

You are expected to be familiar with the general College policy on Academic Integrity as stated in the E-Book. Copies may be obtained in the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs, Room 255 in the Frick Center. The content of the E-Book applies to this course. I will also provide you with a copy of the Natural Sciences Division policy statement on this subject. If you have questions about this matter, please discuss them with me.

COURSE EVALUATION

Near the end of the semester, you will be given the opportunity to provide a confidential evaluation of various aspects of this course, including my performance as an instructor. If you have suggestions for improvements, they will be of even more use if they are made earlier than the formal evaluation. So please talk to me about them, send me an email note, or if you wish anonymity, slip a note under my office door or put it in my campus mailbox (Campus Box #2472). The course you save could be your own!