Physics 115: Statistical Mechanics

TTh 1:15-2:30am
Keck Scence Center 101

In this course you will learn to bridge the gap between the simple physical systems considered in most of the curriculum and the complicated systems of enormously many particles that we encounter in the everyday world. We will explore both the thermodynamic approach (based on macroscopic properties of a system) and the statistical mechanics approach (based on a probabilistic treatment of large numbers of atoms) to the subject. A number of class examples will make use of computational or numerical methods.

It is important that you read the syllabus for the course, which includes information about course policies, grading, and a rough schedule of topics. The handout on grading policies is important, too, but I'm guessing that most of you are already on top of this sort of thing.

Most of the online content for the course will be on the colleges' Sakai course management system. Look at the course there for more information.