This course is part of the Statistical Thermodynamics Specialization

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109 ratings

John W. Daily

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Statistical Thermodynamics SpecializationUniversity of Colorado Boulder

About this Course

Course 4 of Statistical Thermodynamics addresses dense gases, liquids, and solids. As the density of a gas is increased, intermolecular forces begin to affect behavior. For small departures from ideal gas behavior, known as the dense gas limit, one can estimate the change in properties using the concept of a configuration integral, a modification to the partition function. This leads to the development of equations of state that are expansions in density from the ideal gas limit. Inter molecular potential energy functions are introduced and it is explored how they impact P-V-T behavior. As the density is increased, there is a transition to the liquid state. We explore whether this transition is smooth or abrupt by examining the stability of a thermodynamic system to small perturbations. We then present a brief discussion regarding the determination of the thermodynamic properties of liquids using concept of the radial distribution function (RDF), and how the function relates to thermodynamic properties. Finally, we explore two simple models of crystalline solids.

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Coursera Labs

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Course 4 of 5 in the

Statistical Thermodynamics Specialization

Advanced Level

Approx. 5 hours to complete

English

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Skills you will gain

Gases
Solids
Thermodynamics
Liquids
Mechanical Engineering

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Coursera Labs

Includes hands on learning projects.

Learn more about Coursera Labs

Course 4 of 5 in the

Statistical Thermodynamics Specialization

Advanced Level

Approx. 5 hours to complete

English

Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?

Try Coursera for Business

Instructor

John W. Daily

Professor

Mechanical Engineering

31,281 Learners

5 Courses

Offered by

University of Colorado Boulder

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Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Week1

Week 1

2 hours to complete

The Configuration Integral

As the density of a gas is increased, intermolecular forces begin to affect behavior. For small departures from ideal gas behavior, known as the dense gas limit, one can estimate the change in properties using the concept of a configuration integral, a modification to the partition function. This leads to the development of equations of state that are expansions in density from the ideal gas limit. Inter molecular potential energy functions are introduced and it is explored how they impact P-V-T behavior.

2 hours to complete

4 videos (Total 24 min), 4 readings

Week2

Week 2

2 hours to complete

Thermodynamic Stability

2 hours to complete

3 videos (Total 16 min), 3 readings, 1 quiz

Week3

Week 3

1 hour to complete

The radial distribution function, thermodynamic properties, and MD simulations of liquid properties

1 hour to complete

3 videos (Total 20 min), 3 readings

Week4

Week 4

1 hour to complete

Crystalline Solids

1 hour to complete

2 videos (Total 14 min), 2 readings, 3 quizzes

Reviews

4.5

15 reviews

5 stars
70.64%
4 stars
16.51%
3 stars
6.42%
2 stars
1.83%
1 star
4.58%

TOP REVIEWS FROM DENSE GASES, LIQUIDS AND SOLIDS

by KMApr 10, 2021

Great course to learn about Dense Gases, Liquids, and Solid. I highly recommend this course.

by SSJun 1, 2020

Amazing course for statistical thermodynamics. Learned the origins of specific heat for solids and how they are calculated.

by AOAug 29, 2020

It is a good course. It teaches you patience and equally to work hard

View all reviews

About the Statistical Thermodynamics Specialization

This specialization was developed for the mechanical or aerospace engineering advanced undergraduate graduate or graduate student who already has a strong background in undergraduate engineering thermodynamics and is ready to tackle the underlying fundamentals of the subject. It is designed for those entering advanced fields such as combustion, high temperature gas dynamics, environmental sciences, or materials processing, or wishes to build a background for understanding advanced experimental diagnostic techniques in these or similar fields. It covers the relationship between macroscopic and microscopic thermodynamics and derives properties for gases, liquids and solids. It also covers non-equilibrium behavior as found in kinetic theory and chemical kinetics. The main innovation is the use of the postulatory approach to introducing fundamental concepts and the very clear connection between macroscopic and microscopic thermodynamics. By introducing basic ideas using postulates, students are given a very straightforward way to think about important concepts, including entropy and temperature, ensembles and quantum mechanics.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

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Dense Gases, Liquids and Solids

About this Course

Skills you will gain