Overview

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Overview

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PHY 418: Statistical Mechanics I
Prof. S. Teitel: stte@pas.rochester.edu ---- Spring 2024

Overview

Course Overview and Introduction

Welcome to Statistical Mechanics I.

The course meets for two lecture periods a week on Monday and Wednesday morning. There will be a midterm and endterm exam. Your grade will be based on your performance on the Problem Set assignments and on the two exams. See the Course Information page for further details.

This course will cover the basics of classical thermodynamics and statistical mechanics. You should already be familiar with most of the concepts we will discuss in this course from your undergraduate studies. If you have not already taken an upper level undergraduate course in statistical mechanics at the level of the text Fundamentals of Statistical and Thermal Physics by Reif, or similar, you should contact me. The course will move at a quick pace.

For the historically minded, you may go here for a A brief history of statistical mechanics and thermodynamics.

To access many features of the class website, such as viewing lecture videos, emailing classmates, uploading homework, and viewing your grades, you must first login to the University's Blackboard system using your UR NetID.

The class website is structured as outlined below.

Use the Home page to see announcements for the class.
Use the Instructors page to see contact information for the class instructors and office hours.
Use the Course Information page for general information and policies concerning the class.
Use the Communications page for information about the various means we will use to communicate with one another.
Use the Calendar page for a calendar for the class noting significant dates.
Use the Notes page for links to class notes.
Use the Videos page for links to pre-recorded video lectures.
Use the Problem Sets page for links to Problem Sets and Solutions.
Use the Zoom link to see the Zoom links for the course.
Use the Email link to send email to your classmates or the instructors.