PHY3513 (Thermal Physics), spring term 2010
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- Instructor: Amlan Biswas
Office: 2255 NPB |
Phone: 392-8592 |
Lab: B32 NPB |
Phone: 392-3667 |
Email: amlan@phys.ufl.edu
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Fax: 392-3591 |
- Office hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday period 7, 1:55 pm-2:45 pm. At other times, please email and confirm.
Textbook: The required text is Concepts in Thermal Physics by S. Blundell and K. Blundell
- Corequisites: PHY 2049 or the equivalent. A course in differential equations is highly recommended.
Synopsis: First part of sequence PHY 3513-4523. Treatment of classical thermodynamics
including fundamental postulates, entropy, equations of states. Thermodynamic
equilibrium and potentials, Maxwell relations, phase transitions.
Physics 3513 will cover selected chapters of the textbook. See outline for details. Lecture slides will be available, usually, a day before class on this website.
Grading policy:
Homework: There will be approximately four GRADED homework assignments during the semester, usually assigned on Wednesdays, due a week later and will be returned to the student a week after the due date. Make your solutions neat, concise, and intelligible. Points may be deducted if it is difficult to find and/or understand the solutions. Late homework: 75% credit for 1 day late, 50% credit for 2 days late, 0% thereafter. In addition, there will be five UNGRADED homeworks during the semester. These homeworks are for practice and preparation for FOUR IN-CLASS TESTS. The graded homeworks will be worth 10% of the total grade.
In-class tests : In addition to the homework assignments, there will be FOUR IN-CLASS TESTS of 50 minutes duration, tentatively scheduled for January 29, February 19, March 19, and April 9. Each of these tests will be worth 20% of the total grade. The lowest score of the four tests will be dropped. Hence the in-class tests will constitute 60% of the total grade. The in-class tests will be based on the ungraded homework assigned the previous week which will also serve as a formula sheet for the corresponding in-class test.
In-class quizzes: 10-minute in-class quizzes will usually be on fridays and will cover topics included in the homework due the previous wednesday. These quizzes will be entirely based on conceptual questions (with true/false responses) except; one quiz near the end of the semester will be used the fulfil the academic learning compact (ALC) requirement. The lowest quiz grade will be dropped. However, the ALC quiz is compulsory and will not be dropped. The in-class quizzes will constitute 10% of your total grade. With the exception of the ALC quiz, discussion among students will be allowed during the in-class quizzes.
Final exam: There will be a two hour, cumulative final exam. Details about the exam format will be posted here. You should make your own formula sheets for the final exam (six double sided letter sized sheets). The final exam will be worth 20% of the total grade.
Grade calculation:
Homework |
10% |
Best 3 out of 4 in-class tests |
20% each for a total of 60% |
In-class quizzes |
10% |
Final exam |
20% |
Here is a guideline for your final letter grade: 85%-100%, some type of A; 65%-84%, some type of B; 50%-64%, some type of C; below 50, will be decided by the instructor. These numbers may be lowered, depending upon numerous factors, but will not be raised. The course grades are not curved.
Holidays (no classes): Martin Luther King day: Jan 18, Spring break: 3/8, 3/10, 3/12