FINAL EXAM
Friday, May 18th, 17:15-19:30.
Study all the homework assignments and
the corresponding material from the lecture notes and textbook
(including review problems and midterm solutions).
The exam is ``closed book'' but you may bring five pages of notes.
Calculators are not needed; a book of mathematical formulas will be
available if you forget a common formula or identity. The Final exam consists
of six problems; each problem has multiple parts. Two of the problems
are from the material covered in the first midterm; two from the second
midterm; two from the material since the second midterm. You are not
expected to finish the exam but do as many parts of as many problems
as you can within the allotted time. Each problem is 25 points
for a total of 150 points; the borderline between A's and B's
is 80 points.
SECOND MIDTERM
Tuesday, April 24th. Study Homeworks #10-#18
and the corresponding material from the lecture notes (Chapters 5, 6, and 7) and textbook
(Chapters 7, 8, 12, 13, and Appendices D, E).
The exam is ``closed book'' but you may bring two pages of notes.
A calculator is needed briefly on one part of one problem;
you may bring your own or use mine.
A book of mathematical formulas will be
available if you forget a common formula or identity.
The midterm consists
of four problems; each problem has multiple parts.
Three of the four problems are based on homework problems.
Two problems are on quantum ideal gases and two problems
are on Ising model or critical phenomena.
The problems
are 30-45 points each for a total of 150 points. You are not
expected to finish all the problems. Over 90 points is an A,
between 90 and 70 points is a B, below 70 points is a C.
FIRST MIDTERM
Thursday, March 1st. Study Homeworks #1-#9
and the corresponding material from the lecture notes and textbook (Chapters 1, 2, and 3).
The exam is ``closed book'' but you may bring two pages of notes.
Calculators are not needed; a book of mathematical formulas will be
available if you forget a common formula or identity. The midterm consists
of three problems; each problem has multiple parts.
Course description: This course will present an introduction to equilibrium statistical mechanics. Topics include: review of thermodynamics; theory of ensembles; ideal quantum gases; critical phenomena; fluctuations; computer simulations for interacting systems.
Textbook: Statistical Mechanics (Third Edition) by R. K. Pathria and Paul D. Beale; ISBN 0123821886. SJSU's library has this textbook available as an eBook here. Lectures will deviate from the textbook; lecture notes may be download here. You are encouraged to consult other textbooks, such as your undergraduate thermodynamics book.
Homework: Late homework will not be accepted. Homework solutions will be posted on this site. The curve for homework is: 85% or better is an A; 70% or better is a B; below 70% is a C.
Computers: You are encouraged to use symbolic manipulators to assist you with your homework as long as your solution displays a coherent, logical train of thought. In other words, your solution should contain enough intermediate steps as to be easily checked by hand.
Exams: There will be two midterm exams plus a final exam. Each exam will be based on problems similar to those assigned as homework. The tests will be open book. One sheet of notes and a calculator will be allowed in the exam. All exams will be curved. Final exam will be cumulative.
Grades: Towards the final grade, homework counts 35%; each midterm counts 20%; and the final counts 25%.
| Lecture | Topics | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thermodynamics | 1/26 |
| 2 | Thermodynamics | 1/31 |
| 3 | Thermodynamics | 2/2 |
| 4 | Ensemble Theory I | 2/7 |
| 5 | Ensemble Theory I | 2/9 |
| 6 | Ensemble Theory I | 2/14 |
| 7 | Ensemble Theory I | 2/16 |
| 8 | Ensemble Theory II | 2/21 |
| 9 | Ensemble Theory II | 2/23 |
| 10 | Review and Examples | 2/28 |
| 11 | First Midterm | 3/1 |
| 12 | Quantum Ideal Gases | 3/6 |
| 13 | Fermi Gases | 3/8 |
| 14 | White Dwarfs | 3/13 |
| 15 | Boson Gases | 3/15 |
| 16 | B-E Condensation | 3/20 |
| 17 | Ising Model | 3/22 |
| - | SPRING BREAK | - |
| 18 | Mean Field Models | 4/3 |
| 19 | Bragg-Williams; 1D Ising | 4/5 |
| 20 | Critical Phenomena I | 4/10 |
| 21 | Critical Phenomena II | 4/12 |
| 22 | Dense Gases I | 4/17 |
| 23 | Dense Gases II | 4/19 |
| 24 | Second Midterm | 4/24 |
| 25 | Thermodynamic Fluctuations | 4/26 |
| 26 | Brownian Motion | 5/1 |
| 27 | Langevin Theory | 5/3 |
| 28 | Monte Carlo Simulations | 5/8 |
| 29 | Molecular Dynamics Simulations | 5/10 |
| 30 | Stochastic Particle Methods | 5/15 |
Ethics: Your own commitment to learning, as evidenced by your enrollment at San Jose State University and the University's integrity policy, require you to be honest in all your academic course work. Faculty members are required to report all infractions to the office of Student Conduct and Ethical development. The policy on academic integrity can be found at http://sa.sjsu.edu/student_conduct
Plagiarism is the use of someone else's language, images, data, or ideas without proper attribution. It is a very serious offense in both academic and professional environments. In essence, plagiarism is both theft and lying: you have stolen someone else's ideas, and then lied by implying that they are your own.
Learning when to cite a source, and when not to, is an art, not a science. However, here are some examples of plagiarism that you should be careful to avoid:
o If you use a sentence (or even a part of a sentence) that someone else wrote and do not reference the source, you have committed plagiarism.
o If you paraphrase somebody else's theory or idea and do not reference the source, you have committed plagiarism.
o If you use a picture or table from a web page or book and do not reference the source, you have committed plagiarism.
o If your paper incorporates data someone else has collected and you do not reference the source, you have committed plagiarism.
The SJSU library has a tutorial that explains how to identify and avoid plagiarism, available at: http://tutorials.sjlibrary.org/plagiarism/index.htm.
Disabilities: If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible, or see me during office hours. Presidential Directive 97-03 requires that students with disabilities register with DRC to establish a record of their disability.
Emergencies: If you hear a continuous alarm or are told to evacuate the building, walk quickly to the nearest stairway at the end of each hall. Do not use the elevator. Take your personal belongings with you. Be quiet and follow instructions. Move away from the building and do not return until informed by police or coordinators.
Send comments to: algarcia@algarcia.org