FY550: Statistical Physics
Study Board of Science
Teaching language: Danish or English depending on the teacher
EKA: N500052102
Assessment: Second examiner: External
Grading: 7-point grading scale
Offered in: Odense
Offered in: Spring
Level: Bachelor
STADS ID (UVA): N500052101
ECTS value: 5
Date of Approval: 06-11-2023
Duration: 1 semester
Version: Approved - active
Entry requirements
Academic preconditions
Students taking the course are expected to: Have knowledge of basic thermodynamics, electromagnetism and quantum mechanics (a course in the latter should be followed at the latest simultaneously).
Course introduction
The aim of the course is to enable the student to understand statistical (or emergent) properties of physical systems, which is important in regard to understanding the behavior of matter.
Philosophy of science aspects are included in a discussion of how to move between levels of description, e.g., by deduction from the more fundamental level. In particular, the inherent knowledge loss of chaotic dynamics is used to bridge deterministic and statistical model descriptions and to justify the main axiom of equilibrium statistical physics and thermodynamics.
The course builds on the knowledge acquired in the courses FT500, FT504 and quantum mechanics, and it provides a knowledge base for later courses in for instance condensed matter physics (hard and soft), statistical physics, astrophysics and computational physics.
In relation to the competence profile of the degree the explicit focus of the course is on:
In relation to the competence profile of the degree the explicit focus of the course is on:
- research-based knowledge of the basic theory formations and experimental methods of physics.
- research-based knowledge of key topics in scientific theory.
Applications:
This course introduces the fundamental rules that describe how particles interact to collectively form matter on macroscopic scales, and thus provides ways to understand and calculate properties of matter. It therefore relates to many sustainability topics: The concept of temperature, for instance, is cardinal to the problems we are facing with climate change, and the roots of the subject (thermodynamics) goes back to steam engines and the need to understand how to efficiently convert between different forms of energy.
Expected learning outcome
The learning objective of the course is that the student demonstrates the ability to:use thermodynamical and statistical mechanical arguments to describe and solve physical problems.
Content
The course comprises the following main topics:
- Thermodynamics and statistical mechanics
- Classical and quantum ideal gases, Boltzmann, Fermi-Dirac and Bose-Einstein statistics
- Crystal vibrations, black-body radiation
- Phase-transitions in classical and quantum mechanical systems
Literature
Examination regulations
Exam element a)
Timing
June
Tests
Written exam
EKA
N500052102
Assessment
Second examiner: External
Grading
7-point grading scale
Identification
Student Identification Card - Exam number
Language
Normally, the same as teaching language
Duration
4 hours
Examination aids
All common aids are allowed e.g. books, notes, computer programmes which do not use internet etc.
Internet is not allowed during the exam. However, you may visit the course site in itslearning to open system "DE-Digital Exam". If you wish to use course materials from itslearning, you must download the materials to your computer the day before the exam. During the exam you cannot be sure that all course materials is accessible in itslearning.
Internet is not allowed during the exam. However, you may visit the course site in itslearning to open system "DE-Digital Exam". If you wish to use course materials from itslearning, you must download the materials to your computer the day before the exam. During the exam you cannot be sure that all course materials is accessible in itslearning.
ECTS value
5
Additional information
Re-examination: For 10 or fewer registrations, reexamination is transferred to a oral examination with internal co-examination.
More detailed description of the re-examination rules will be published in Iislearning.
More detailed description of the re-examination rules will be published in Iislearning.
Indicative number of lessons
Teaching Method
At the faculty of science, teaching is organized after the three-phase model ie. intro, training and study phase.
- Intro phase (video lectures): 23 hours (not scheduled)
- Training phase (tutorials): 46 hours
In the skills training phase the students will have the opportunity to work with the concepts and methods presented in the intro phase by solving specific problems.
Activities in the study phase:
- Solving surplus problems (if any) from the tutorials.
- Self-study of the textbook.
- Preparation for the exam.
Teacher responsible
Timetable
Administrative Unit
Team at Educational Law & Registration
Offered in
Recommended course of study
Transition rules
Transitional arrangements describe how a course replaces another course when changes are made to the course of study.
If a transitional arrangement has been made for a course, it will be stated in the list.
See transitional arrangements for all courses at the Faculty of Science.