About this Course

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Modern engineering research focuses on designing new materials and processes at the molecular level. Statistical thermodynamics provides the formalism for understanding how molecular interactions lead to the observed collective behavior at the macroscale. 
This course will develop a molecular-level understanding of key thermodynamic quantities like heat, work, free energy and entropy. These concepts will be applied in understanding several important engineering and biological applications.

Shareable Certificate

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Flexible deadlines

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Intermediate Level

Approx. 10 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: French, Portuguese (European), Russian, English, Spanish

Instructor

Venkat Viswanathan

Assistant Professor

Mechanical Engineering

11,155 Learners

1 Course

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Intermediate Level

Approx. 10 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: French, Portuguese (European), Russian, English, Spanish

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Week

1

Week 1

1 hour to complete

Theory: Classical Thermodynamics

1 hour to complete

4 videos (Total 40 min)

4 videos

Module 1.1: Classical Mechanics9m

Module 1.2: Quantum Mechanics10m

Module 2.1: Classical Thermodynamics10m

Module 2.2: Phase Equilibrium8m

3 practice exercises

Assignment 130m

Entry Survey10m

Hands-on demo kit10m

Week

2

Week 2

2 hours to complete

Theory: Introduction to Statistics and Statistical Thermodynamics

2 hours to complete

2 videos (Total 18 min)

2 videos

Module 3.1: Statistics9m

Module 3.2: Statistical Thermodynamics8m

1 practice exercise

Assignment 230m

Week

3

Week 3

1 hour to complete

Theory: Non-interacting systems

1 hour to complete

5 videos (Total 50 min)

5 videos

Module 4.1: Non-Interacting Systems: Two-level System10m

Module 4.2: Non-Interacting Systems: Ideal Gas9m

Module 4.3: Non-Interacting Systems: Electrons10m

Module 4.4: Non-Interacting Systems: Phonons9m

Module 4.5: Non-Interacting Systems: Photons9m

1 practice exercise

Assignment 330m

Week

4

Week 4

1 hour to complete

Theory: Interacting systems

1 hour to complete

3 videos (Total 30 min)

3 videos

Module 5.1: Ising Model: Introduction8m

Module 5.2: Ising Model: Mean-field Approximation12m

Module 5.3: Ising Model: Fluctuations8m

1 practice exercise

Assignment 445m

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
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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 purchase the Certificate?
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, 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?
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Will I earn university credit for completing the Course?
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Statistical Thermodynamics: Molecules to Machines