A completely revised edition that combines a comprehensive coverage of statistical and thermal physics with enhanced computational tools, accessibility, and active learning activities to meet the needs of today's students and educators This revised and expanded edition of Statistical and Thermal Physics introduces students to the essential ideas and techniques used in many areas of contemporary physics. Ready-to-run programs help make the many abstract concepts concrete. The text requires only a background in introductory mechanics and some basic ideas of quantum theory, discussing material typically found in undergraduate texts as well as topics such as fluids, critical phenomena, and computational techniques, which serve as a natural bridge to graduate study. Completely revised to be more accessible to students Encourages active reading with guided problems tied to the text Updated open source programs available in Java, Python, and JavaScript Integrates Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics simulations and other numerical techniques Self-contained introductions to thermodynamics and probability, including Bayes' theorem A fuller discussion of magnetism and the Ising model than other undergraduate texts Treats ideal classical and quantum gases within a uniform framework Features a new chapter on transport coefficients and linear response theory Draws on findings from contemporary research Solutions manual (available only to instructors)

This book is based on many years of teaching statistical and thermal physics. It assumes no previous knowledge of thermodynamics, kinetic theory, or probability---the only prerequisites are an elementary knowledge of classical and modern physics, and of multivariable calculus. The first half of the book introduces the subject inductively but rigorously, proceeding from the concrete and specific to the abstract and general. In clear physical language the book explains the key concepts, such as temperature, heat, entropy, free energy, chemical potential, and distributions, both classical and quantum. The second half of the book applies these concepts to a wide variety of phenomena, including perfect gases, heat engines, and transport processes. Each chapter contains fully worked examples and real-world problems drawn from physics, astronomy, biology, chemistry, electronics, and mechanical engineering.

In Thermal Physics: Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics for Scientists and Engineers, the fundamental laws of thermodynamics are stated precisely as postulates and subsequently connected to historical context and developed mathematically. These laws are applied systematically to topics such as phase equilibria, chemical reactions, external forces, fluid-fluid surfaces and interfaces, and anisotropic crystal-fluid interfaces. Statistical mechanics is presented in the context of information theory to quantify entropy, followed by development of the most important ensembles: microcanonical, canonical, and grand canonical. A unified treatment of ideal classical, Fermi, and Bose gases is presented, including Bose condensation, degenerate Fermi gases, and classical gases with internal structure. Additional topics include paramagnetism, adsorption on dilute sites, point defects in crystals, thermal aspects of intrinsic and extrinsic semiconductors, density matrix formalism, the Ising model, and an introduction to Monte Carlo simulation. Throughout the book, problems are posed and solved to illustrate specific results and problem-solving techniques. Includes applications of interest to physicists, physical chemists, and materials scientists, as well as materials, chemical, and mechanical engineers Suitable as a textbook for advanced undergraduates, graduate students, and practicing researchers Develops content systematically with increasing order of complexity Self-contained, including nine appendices to handle necessary background and technical details

A standard text combining statistical physics with thermal phenomena, this book presents a unified approach to provide a deeper insight into the subject and to bring out the subtle unity of statistical mechanics and thermodynamics. Suitable as a text for undergraduate courses in physics. KEY FEATURES • Presents a new pedagogical approach introducing macroscopic (classical) thermodynamics through the statistical mechanics. This new approach is increasingly sought to be introduced worldwide. • Magnitudes of physical quantities under discussion are emphasized through worked-out examples. • Questions and exercises are interspersed with the text to help students consolidate the learning. • Techniques developed in this course are applied to actual modern situations. • Many topics are introduced through the problems to help inculcate self-study.

This is a textbook for the standard undergraduate-level course in thermal physics. The book explores applications to engineering, chemistry, biology, geology, atmospheric science, astrophysics, cosmology, and everyday life.

Statistical physics has its origins in attempts to describe the thermal properties of matter in terms of its constituent particles, and has played a fundamental role in the development of quantum mechanics. Based on lectures taught by Professor Kardar at MIT, this textbook introduces the central concepts and tools of statistical physics. It contains a chapter on probability and related issues such as the central limit theorem and information theory, and covers interacting particles, with an extensive description of the van der Waals equation and its derivation by mean field approximation. It also contains an integrated set of problems, with solutions to selected problems at the end of the book and a complete set of solutions is available to lecturers on a password protected website at www.cambridge.org/9780521873420. A companion volume, Statistical Physics of Fields, discusses non-mean field aspects of scaling and critical phenomena, through the perspective of renormalization group.

Basic concepts and notions explained in a simple way A large number of solved examples provided Self-contained mathematical tools provided to understand concepts of statistical physics