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PHY3513 (Thermal Physics), spring term 2009

Time and Place: MWF Period 5 (11:45 am-12:35 pm), NPB 1101

Final Exam: Thursday, April 30, 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm, NPB 1101

Instructor:  Amlan Biswas

Office: 2255 NPB	Phone:  392-8592
Lab: B32 NPB	Phone:  392-3667
Email: amlan@phys.ufl.edu	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 one homework assignment per week, usually assigned and due on Wednesdays and will be returned to the student one week later. 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.

Exams: In addition to the homework assignments, there will be two in class tests, tentatively scheduled for February 13 and March 30, and the two hour, cumulative final exam. Details about the exam formats will be posted here. You should make your own formula sheets for the exams (for the two midterm exams, two double sided letter sized sheets, and for the final six double sided letter sized sheets.

In-class quizzes: In-class quizzes will usually be on fridays and will cover topics included in the homework due the previous wednesday.

Grade calculation: The homework is 30% of your grade, 10% grade for the in-class quizzes, the tests 20% each, and the final is 20%.

Here is a guideline for your final grade, as a percentage of the total number of points (scaled as above): 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 19, Spring break: 3/9, 3/11, 3/13