Some Web sites of interest and relevance to Physics 404
Fall 2014
Checked for (and fixed many) broken links on Aug. 25, 2014; please inform instructor of any that were missed!
Schroeder's site for An Introduction to Thermal Physics:
Simulations:
Java Simulations for Statistical and Thermal Physics from Gould and Tobochnik's excellent curriculum development
General references:
Dealing with Java security settings (on physlet, but generalizable)
Wikipedia: thermodynamics, statistical thermodynamics, statistical mechanics, ...
Compendium of sites for Stat Mech & Thermo, also Nano, Quantum
Hyperphysics subsite on Heat & Thermodynamics: lots of nice calculational modules
Chap. 1
Heat capacity (wikipedia)
Clear, succinct, elementary discussion of thermal expansion
Coefficients of linear expansion of the elements
Cute applet about heat capacity
Chap. 2, probability:
Permutations and combinations, elementary review and alternative, with binomial coefficients
Combinations (wikipedia, terse)
Binomial and normal distributions, from Rice U.
Stirling's approximation (wikipedia)
Applets for 2-level system and rotating dimer (scroll down past formalism!)
Chap. 2-3, entropy:
Applet of bouncing ball and entropy
Extensive, non-technical discussion of entropy
Long discussion of entropy claiming to clarify common misconceptions
Doug Craigen's thought-provoking comments: Entropy and Evolution and Later Summary Notes
Diffusion and random walk applets and much fancier diffusion simulation
Chap. 4, Heat Engines:
Carnot cycle try different values of γ = Cp/Cv
Refrigeration cycle, qualitative
Thermodynamics of refrigeration, with T-S diagrams
Slide show on refrigeration , more than you likely want to know, but the first few are germane
Otto cycle-car engine, animated
Otto and Diesel with animated p-V diagram excellent illustration!
Otto cycle on YouTube: comparison of theoretical/idea and practical/actual
Similarly, Diesel cycle on YouTube
Graphical and formal analyses of Otto and Diesel engines, more detailed than you want but nice graph and important conclusion
Graphical analyses of Otto and Diesel engines,again more detailed than you want, with more graphs and less math
Otto cycle with p-V diagram, re Wright brothers
Latest developments re Wankel: Mazda RX-7&8 New variant by GoTek
By popular request:
Readable account of Stirling engines at How Stuff Works
Lattice Vibrations:
Phonon dispersion and display of TA and TO modes in 1D (excellent java app)
Phonon dispersion in various crystals
Phonon density of states via "debye"
Equilibration of Einstein solids
Conductivity & transport:
1D random walk and applications to semiconductor junctions
Chap. 5, Chemistry:
Thorough gentle discussion of phase diagrams
Concise discussion of phase diagrams
Phase diagram of ice: semilog plot with details of ice phases
Helium 4 phase diagram and discussion (pdf)
Chap. 6, Classical Statistical Mechanics :
Maxwell 2D speed distribution, basic
Maxwell 2D speed distribution, fancier
Maxwell 2D speed distribution, nice balance
Chap. 7, Radiation:
Black body spectrum, inc. total emitted power
Fowler discussion of blackbody radiation
Cute applet on Einstein A & B coefficients
Chap. 7, Fermi gases:
Fermi distribution: temperature dependence
Fermi surfaces of actual metals
Chap. 7, Phonons:
Phonons (1D, longitudinal) also shows real dispersion, crystal momentum
Phonon applet (1D, 2-atom basis, transverse)
1D chain showing dispersion relation plus lots of other stuff not germane to this class
Debye model (similar to Schroeder's treatment)
Lecture on Debye model (S. Sweeney, U. of Surrey, UK, solid state class at PHYS404 level)
Dispersion for 3D fcc lattice with nearest-neighbor spring coupling--see last page (NB: German text)
Einstein and Debye model heat capacity (C) and DOS
Chap. 7, Bose-Einstein condensation and liquid helium II:
Liquid Helium II, Superfluid, lambda transition
Liquid Helium II, Superfluid, Segment 1 of 6
Liquid Helium II, Superfluid, Segment 2 of 6
Liquid Helium II, Superfluid Segment 3 of 6: zero viscosity
Liquid Helium II the superfluid (Segment 4: The fountain effect)
Liquid Helium II, Superfluid, Segment 5 of 6: superfluid creep and second sound
Liquid Helium II, Superfluid, Segment 6 of 6: second sound (redundant to segment 5)
Chap. 8, Ising model and Monte Carlo
Ising model, 2D, nice and easy to run
Ising applet with adjustable dimensions and boundary conditions, as well as usual controls
3D Ising model , lots of nice controls
Spin systems:
Phase transitions:
Broken symmetry and order parameters (by J. Sethna)
Hysteresis (by J. Sethna)
Phase separation--dramatic movie
Last updated Oct. 7, 2014