EP 209 Thermal Physics (Autumn 2018-19)

Instructor Name: Raghunath Chelakkot

Course Type: Theory

Pre-requisites: None

Course Content:
Postulates of thermodynamics, fundamental thermodynamic relation, equilibrium conditions in entropy and energy representations, Euler equation, Gibbs-Duhem equation, Maximum Work Theorem, Legendre transformations and thermodynamic potentials, Maxwell relations, stability of systems and phase transitions

Books:
Thermodynamics and an Introduction to Thermostatics - H.B. Callen

Lectures: Attendance not compulsory, slides used for introduction and for phase transitions; otherwise blackboard. Lectures based on the book by Callen. 

Assignments:
3 ungraded tutorials, which were useful in understanding the theory, and would help overall for the exams as well.

Exams and Grading:
Quiz of 15 marks and Endsem of 35 marks.

Pro-tips:
"The book has almost all of the relevant course material. Read the book. Tutorials are useful and the exams had problems of similar nature, so solve them well in advance. The part on Maxwell relations and the thermodynamic square is especially where a bit of familiarity would give you an edge in solving problems. Callen has detailed discussions on that as well. 

TL;DR - read the book."

Respondent: Vedant Shenoy