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Fundamentals of Macroscopic and Microscopic Thermodynamics

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Fundamentals of Macroscopic and Microscopic Thermodynamics

This course is part of Statistical Thermodynamics Specialization

Instructor: John W. Daily

18,401 already enrolled

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3 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

271 reviews

Advanced level

Designed for those already in the industry

Flexible schedule

9 hours to complete

Learn at your own pace

90%

Most learners liked this course

3 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

271 reviews

Advanced level

Designed for those already in the industry

Flexible schedule

9 hours to complete

Learn at your own pace

90%

Most learners liked this course

What you'll learn

Explain the concept of temperature, thermodynamic pressure, and chemical potential from a postulatory perspective
Summarize the role of the Fundamental Relation in establishing connections between atomic/molecular structure and macroscopic properties

Skills you'll gain

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Assessments

6 assignments¹

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Taught in English

91% of learners achieved a positive career outcome

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This course is part of the Statistical Thermodynamics Specialization

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There are 3 modules in this course

Course 1 first explores the basics of both macroscopic and microscopic thermodynamics from a postulatory point of view. In this view, the meaning of temperature, thermodynamic pressure and chemical potential are especially clear and easy to understand. In addition , the development of the Fundamental Relation and its various transformations leads to a clear path to property relations and to the concept of ensembles needed to understand the relationship between atomic and molecular structural properties and macroscopic properties. We then explore the relationship between atomic and molecular structure and macroscopic properties by taking a statistical point of view. Using a postulatory approach, the method for doing this is made clear. This leads to the development of the partition function which describes the distribution of molecular quantum states as a function of the independent, macroscopic thermodynamic properties.

Module details

In this module we explore the basics of macroscopic thermodynamics from a postulatory point of view. In this view, the meaning of temperature, thermodynamic pressure and chemical potential are especially clear and easy to understand. In addition, the development of the Fundamental Relation and its various transformations leads to a clear path to property relations.

What's included

6 videos7 readings2 assignments1 peer review2 discussion prompts

6 videosTotal 34 minutes

Statistical Thermodynamics: Introductions and Background6 minutes
A Brief Overview5 minutes
The Nature of Matter6 minutes
Work, Energy and the First Law for a Point Source6 minutes
Internal Energy, Heat Transfer and the 1st Law for Real Systems7 minutes
Equilibrium and Thermodynamic Properties4 minutes

7 readingsTotal 61 minutes

Course Updates and Accessibility Support1 minute
Bibliography10 minutes
A Brief Overview10 minutes
The Nature of Matter10 minutes
Work, Energy and the 1st Law for a Point Mass10 minutes
Internal Energy, Heat Transfer and the 1st Law for Real Systems10 minutes
Equilibrium and Thermodynamic Properties10 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 20 minutes

Problem 1.310 minutes
Problem 1.410 minutes

1 peer reviewTotal 30 minutes

Problem 1.530 minutes

2 discussion promptsTotal 20 minutes

Problem 1.110 minutes
Problem 1.210 minutes

We then explore the relationship between atomic and molecu-lar structure and macroscopic properties by taking a statistical point of view. Using apostulatory approach, the method for doing this is made clear. This leads to the devel-opment of the partition function which describes the distribution of molecular quantumstates as a function of the independent, macroscopic thermodynamic properties.

What's included

9 videos9 readings3 assignments5 discussion prompts

9 videosTotal 43 minutes

Fundamentals of Macroscopic Thermodynamics11 minutes
The Thermodynamic Definition of Temperature6 minutes
The Thermodynamic Definition of Pressure5 minutes
The Thermodynamic Definition of Chemical Potential5 minutes
Representation and the Equations of State, Euler Equations and the Gibbs-Duhem Relation4 minutes
Alternative Representations3 minutes
Quasi-Static Processes3 minutes
Maxwell's Relations2 minutes
Building Property Relations4 minutes

9 readingsTotal 90 minutes

Fundamentals of Macroscopic Thermodynamics10 minutes
The Thermodynamic Definition of Temperature10 minutes
The Thermodynamic Definition of Pressure10 minutes
The Thermodynamic Definition of Chemical Potential10 minutes
Representation and the Equations of State, Euler Equations and the Gibbs-Duhem Relation10 minutes
Alternative Representations10 minutes
Quasi-Static Processes10 minutes
Maxwell's Relations10 minutes
Building Property Relations10 minutes

3 assignmentsTotal 30 minutes

Problem 2.210 minutes
Problem 2.310 minutes
Problem 2.410 minutes

5 discussion promptsTotal 80 minutes

Problem 2.110 minutes
Problems 2.13-2.1610 minutes
Problem 2.520 minutes
Problem 2.1020 minutes
Problem 2.1220 minutes

Here we explore microscopic thermodynamics from a postulatory point of view. We introduce the concept of ensembles as needed to understand the relationship between atomic and molecular structural properties and macroscopic properties. This leads to the partition function which relsates the distribution of molecular quantum states as a function of the independent, macroscopic thermodynamic properties.