SPOCs available at Sorbonne University - 3P011

Thermodynamics - 3P011

Éric Brunet, Thierry Hocquet, Xavier Leyronas

_{Course description}

In the first part, this module presents in depth the principles of thermodynamics. The formalism is used to describe systems at equilibrium and their transformations, such as phase transitions and diluted solutions. The second part of the module is devoted to the introduction of basic concepts of statistical physics in order to show the relationship between the microscopic and macroscopic descriptions of a system.

_{Full course description}

Part 1: Thermodynamics (8 or 9 courses)

Description of a thermodynamic system. Internal energy and first principle. Thermodynamic equilibrium. Transformations. Examples of work (pressure forces and others), of heat and introduction of chemical potential. Entropy, irreversibility and second principle. Thermodynamic identity. The conditions of equilibrium. Thermodynamic potentials and functions (enthalpy, free energy, free enthalpy). Calorimetric coefficients. Phase transitions of pure substances. Phase diagrams. Diluted solutions and applications.

Part 2: Introduction to Statistical Physics (3 or 4 courses)

Notion of microstates vs macrostates. Microscopic interpretation of pressure, internal energy and entropy. Equiprobability of microstates. Boltzmann's entropy formula. Average quantities and fluctuations. Thermalised systems and Boltzmann’s factor. Kinetic theory of gases, Maxwell-Boltzmann’s law. Applications to simple systems