Subject Descriptions - Subject Information

2020 Undergraduate Calendar

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences
School of Physics

Subject Information
Subject Code
PHYS385
Subject Name
Statistical Mechanics
Credit Points
6
Pre-Requisites
PHYS235
Co-Requisites
None.
Restrictions
None.
Equivalence
None.
Assessment
Lab/Prac/Simulation: 35%;
Assignment: 20%;
Exam: 45%;
General Subject
Yes.
EFTSL (Non Weighted)
.125
Non Weighted Student Contribution Amount
Commonwealth Supported (HECS) Student Only
(Note: 2018 Maximum student contribution amounts revised 18 December 2017)

Note: 2021 Student contribution amounts reflect the changes included in the Higher Education Support Amendment (Job-Ready Graduates and Supporting Regional and Remote Students) Bill 2020 which was passed by Parliament 27 Oct 2020. Refer to Understanding your student contribution for more information about Tuition fees in 2021.
Pre-1997Pre-2005Post-2005Post-2008Post-2009Post-2010Post-2021
$1,190$1,190$1,190$1,190$1,190$1,190
Students in courses of study that:
  • are accredited for the purposes of professional registration by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and which lead to Endorsed Areas of Practice in Clinical Psychology, Clinical Neuropsychology, Counselling Psychology, Educational and Developmental Psychology, Forensic Psychology, Health Psychology, Sports Psychology and Community Psychology
  • lead to a bachelors degree or honours degree in psychology with a course structure that makes it compulsory to study the units relevant to professional registration as a psychologist by the Psychology Board of Australia, and which itself represents a pathway to professional registration as a psychologist.
  • lead to a bachelors degree, honours degree or masters degree in social work accredited by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW).

  • refer to Understanding your student contribution for information about Tuition fees for this subject in 2021.
Weighted Student Contribution Amount
Commonwealth Supported (HECS) Students Only
Course
1771 - Bachelor of Laws (Honours) (Direct Entry)
1777 - Bachelor of Laws (Direct Entry)
1827 - Bachelor of International Studies - Bachelor of Laws
1845 - Bachelor of Information Technology - Bachelor of Laws
1852 - Bachelor of Business Information Systems - Bachelor of Laws
351 - Bachelor of Laws (Honours)
760 - Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies - Bachelor of Laws
770 - Bachelor of Laws (Graduate Entry)
771 - Bachelor of Arts - Bachelor of Laws
771H - Course information not Found
772 - Bachelor of Creative Arts - Bachelor of Laws
773 - Bachelor of Commerce - Bachelor of Laws
774 - Bachelor of Mathematics - Bachelor of Laws
775 - Bachelor of Science - Bachelor of Laws
775H - Course information not Found
775M - Course information not Found
779 - Bachelor of Engineering - Bachelor of Laws
858 - Bachelor of Journalism - Bachelor of Laws
Work Experience
No
Tutorial Enrolment Information
None.
Subject Availability
Not available in 2020
Subject Availability
Session
Spring (03-08-2020 to 03-12-2020)
Campus
Wollongong
Delivery Method
On Campus
Instance Name
Class 1
Quota
Course Restrictions
No Restriction.
Contact Hours
3 hr lecture, 3 hr practical
Lecturer(s) and Cons. times
Enbang Li
Yujin Qi
Coordinator(s) and Cons. times
Enbang Li
Instance Comment
Census Date
31-08-2020
Subject Description
Content: This course on the basic theory of Statistical Mechanics covers: the quantum state of a system of particles, ensembles, multiplicity functions, system in contact, energy and particle exchange, entropy and temperature, Gibbs and Boltzmann factors, partition functions, fluctuations, identical particles, classical and quantum gases, blackbody radiation, the Debye theory of solids and phonons, Bose-Einstein and Fermi-Dirac statistics, electrons and holes in semiconductors and an introduction to superconductivity.
Subject Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this subject, students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of key concepts in thermal physics, including multiplicity, temperature, entropy, free energy, chemical potential, Gibbs and Boltzmann factors, etc.
2. Describe and discuss binary spin system, ideal gas, simple harmonic oscillator, black body radiation ;
3. Describe partition function, photon distribution, Debye theory of solids and phonons, Fermi and Bose functions, phase transition ;
4. Apply learnt concepts and theories to describe and discuss semiconductor statistics, Bose-Einstein condensation, surperfluidity ;
5. Describe thermodynamic relations and identities;
6. Successfully work in a team and
7. Independently find relevant information and use it in solving problems.
Extra Information
Generic Extra Information:

Subject Objectives:
Textbook Information
There is no single text for this subject. Lecturers will provide the list of resources (book/chapters) to be read within each topic. The reference list below is a guide to supportive textbooks, copies of which are in the library.
Recommended Readings:

“Thermal Physics”, by C. Kittel and H. Kroemer; 2nd edition Freeman, San Francisco 1980.


There is no single text for this subject. Lecturers will provide the list of resources (book/chapters) to be read within each topic. The reference list below is a guide to supportive textbooks, copies of which are in the library.
Recommended Readings:

“Thermal Physics”, by C. Kittel and H. Kroemer; 2nd edition Freeman, San Francisco 1980.


Text book information is available via the UniShop website:
Click here for textbook list