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.
Fundamentals of Macroscopic and Microscopic Thermodynamics
This course is part of Statistical Thermodynamics Specialization
Instructor: John W. Daily
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(259 reviews)
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
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There are 3 modules in this course
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 videos6 readings2 assignments1 peer review2 discussion prompts
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
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.
What's included
6 videos6 readings1 assignment3 discussion prompts
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