This series of ten lectures is the second half of the 3rd year thermal physics course.

The syllabus is in the 3rd year Course Guide

The first half discusses the thermodynamic potentials and the Maxwell relations.

The second half provides an introduction to statistical thermodynamics.

Transparancies for Part A (Thermal Physics) (.ppt file)

Transparancies for Part B (Statistical Mechanics) (.ppt file)

Question Sheet (.pdf file)

The course text-book for the first half of the course is C.B.Finn 'Thermal Physics' 2nd edition, pub. Stanley Thornes, 1993.

The second half is covered by T. Guenault 'Statistical Physics' 2nd Edition, Chapman & Hall, 1995. This text book is a useful reference but is too really detailed for this course. However, it is also used for the Statistical Physics option course.

Hyper Physics entries on Thermodynamics

Chris Parkes

February 2009