F1050 Thermics and molecular physics

Faculty of Science
Autumn 2023
Extent and Intensity
2/1/0. 2 credit(s) (plus 2 credits for an exam). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
doc. RNDr. Aleš Lacina, CSc. (lecturer)
prof. Mgr. Tomáš Tyc, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Jiří Bartoš, PhD. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
doc. RNDr. Aleš Lacina, CSc.
Department of Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics – Physics Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: doc. RNDr. Aleš Lacina, CSc.
Supplier department: Department of Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics – Physics Section – Faculty of Science
Timetable
Mon 14:00–15:50 F1 6/1014
  • Timetable of Seminar Groups:
F1050/01: Thu 11:00–11:50 F3,03015
F1050/02: Thu 14:00–14:50 F3,03015
F1050/03: Wed 19:00–19:50 F3,03015
Prerequisites
Mastering fundamentals of thermal and molecular physics on the level of secondary school-leaving exam.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is offered to students of any study field.
Course objectives
Introductory exposition of basic concepts and ideas of both macroscopic (thermodynamic) and microscopic (molecular-kinetic) descriptions of physical properties of matter. Explanation of the link between both approaches and their application to representative examples (especially to the model of ideal gas).
Learning outcomes
At the end of this course, students should be able:
- to characterize macroscopic and microscopic approaches to the study of macroscopic systems;
- to explain their basic notions and ideas and their mutual connections;
- to apply this theory to the description of processes running in simple macroscopic systems and to use it for calculation of their varius physical characteristics.
Syllabus
  • A. MACROSCOPIC/THERMODYNAMIC DESCRIPTION OF MACROSCOPIC SYSTEMS
  • 1. Basic concepts of thermodynamics: Macroscopic/thermodynamic systems, states, processes, quantities; thermodynamic equilibrium (0th law of thermodynamics), equilibrium states and processes, equations of state.
  • 2. (Inner) energy of a macroscopic system and its changes: Work performed by a system, thermal exchange between a system and its surrounding (1st law of thermodynamics); classification of systems in according to their interaction with surrounding.
  • 3. Temperature and its measurement: The system and its thermometer, general method of the definition of a conventional temperature scale, liquid and gas thermometers.
  • 4. Some important thermodynamic processes: Isochoric, isobaric, isothermic and adiabatic processes, free expansion (of a gas to vaccuum), compound processes - illustration by the case of ideal gas; heat capacities; calorimetry; cyclic processes and its efficiencies.
  • 5. The criterion of realizability of thermodynamical processes: 2nd law of thermodynamics - its various wordings and its physical content; entropy, thermodynamical temperature scale; thermal machines.
  • B. MICROSCOPIC/MOLECULAR-KINETIC DESCRIPTION OF MACROSCOPIC SYSTEMS
  • 6. Basic concepts of molecular-kinetic theory: Microscopic state (vs. macroscopic state), thermodynamical weight of macroscopic state; phase space; (strictly) mechanical desription of a macroscopic system and its statisical desription.
  • 7. Illustration of statistical desription of macroscopic system by the case of ideal gas: The fundaments of kinetic theory of gases, thermodynamic equilibrium from the microscopic point of view, fluctuations, microscopic interpretation of thermodynamical quantities (energy, pressure, temperature).
  • 8. Boltzmann distribution: Barometric formula, the spatial distribution of molecules of ideal gas in various external conditions, the atmosphere of the Earth.
  • 9. Maxwell distribution: The distribution of molecules of ideal gas according to their velocities, the distribution of molecules of ideal gas according to magnitudes of their velocities and according to their kinetic energies; the derivation of the ideal gas equations of state.
  • 10. Material characteristics of matter and their microscopic interpretations: Heat capacities, mean free path, basic information on transport processes.
Literature
  • OREAR, Jay. Základy fyziky. 1. vyd. Bratislava: Alfa, 1977, 550 s. info
  • VEIS, Štefan, Ján MAĎAR and Viktor MARTIŠOVITŠ. Všeobecná fyzika. 1. vyd. Bratislava: Alfa, 1978, 471 s. info
  • HALLIDAY D., RESNICK R. and WALKER J. Fyzika (Fundamentals of Physics). 2nd ed. Brno: Vutium, 2013. 1. info
  • FEYNMAN, Richard Phillips, Robert B. LEIGHTON and Matthew L. SANDS. Feynmanovy přednášky z fyziky s řešenými příklady. 1. vyd. Praha: Fragment, 2000, 732 s. ISBN 9788072004058. info
  • OBDRŽÁLEK, Jan and Alois VANĚK. Termodynamika a molekulová fyzika. Vyd. 1. Ústí nad Labem: Pedagogická fakulta UJEP v Ústí nad Labem, 1996, 223 s. ISBN 8070441348. info
  • ZAJAC R. and PIŠÚT J. Štatistická fyzika (Statistical Physics). Bratislava: Univerzita Komenského, 1995. info
  • BAIERLEIN, Ralph. Thermal physics. 1st publ. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1999, xiii, 442. ISBN 9780521658386. info
  • LACINA, Aleš. Úvod do termodynamiky a statistické fyziky. Vyd. 1. Brno: Rektorát UJEP, 1983, 198 s. info
  • LACINA, Aleš. Základy termodynamiky a statistické fyziky. 1. vyd. Praha: Státní pedagogické nakladatelství, 1990, 267 s. ISBN 8021001135. info
Teaching methods
Lectures and exercises
Assessment methods
Two written tests during the term; 60% of marks are necessary.
Examination consists of two parts: written and oral.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2023, recent)
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