PHYS 3705 - Thermodynamics and Classical Statistical Mechanics
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 02, CRN 41252,
Credit hours: 3
Course Meeting Times
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Instructor
Snjezana Balaz
Email: sbalaz@ysu.edu
Office Phone: (330) 941-7113
How to Refer to me:
Dr. Balaz or Dr. Snow
Course Description
Course Readings
| Group | Title | Author | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Required | Unit T: Some Processes are Irreversible, Six Ideas that Shaped Physics, 4th Edition, McGraw-Hill, 2003 | Thomas A. Moore | |
| Optional | Volume 1 Physics for Scientists and Engineers | R. A. Serway and J. W. Jewett |
Volume 1 Physics for Scientists and Engineers, by R. A. Serway and J. W. Jewett, 8th ed. (Thomson/Brooks-Cole) 2010, or any calculus based introductory text for chapters on fluids, heat and thermodynamics (usually five chapters total) could be helpful. That's why it is optional.
The course readings are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, research developments, current events, and/or to ensure better learning.
Assignments/Assessments
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Material Covered and Tentative Schedule
| Week of | Proposed Topic | Due/To Prepare for Class |
|---|---|---|
| 8/24 | Ch 0 Conservation Laws and Intro to Thermo | Due 8/26 at 8am: SB: T0 Conservation Laws and Introduction to Thermodynamics Due 8/28 at 8am: SB: T1 Core: Temperature |
| 8/31 | Ch 1 Temperature | |
| 9/7 | Energy Transfer by Heat | |
| 9/14 | Exam 1 (W 9/16 Ch0[S+J] and Ch1) Ch 2 Macrostates and Microstates |
Due 9/16 at 8am: Chapter 0 Homework Chapter 1 Homework Calorimetry Lab Due 9/18 at 8am: SB: T2 Core: Macrostates and Microstates |
| 9/21 | Ch 3 Entropy and Temperature | Due 9/21 at 8pm: SB: T3 Core: Entropy and Temperature |
| 9/28 | Ch 4 The Boltzmann Factor | Due 9/28 at 8am: SB: T4 Core: The Boltzmann Factor |
| 10/5 | Exam 2 (W 10/7 Ch2-4) Ch 5 The Ideal Gas |
Due 10/7 at 8am: Chapter 2 Homework Chapter 3 Homework Chapter 4 Homework Due 10/9 at 8am: SB: T5 Expansion: The Ideal Gas |
| 10/12 | Ch 6 Molecular Motion in Gases Ch 7 Photon Gas |
Due 10/14 at 8am: SB: T6 Molecular Motion in Gases SB: T7 Photon Gases |
| 10/19 | Ch. 8 Gas Processes | Due 10/19 at 8am: Chapter 7 Homework SB: T8 Expansion: Gas Processes |
| 10/26 | Exam 3 (W 10/28 Ch 5-8) Ch 9 Calculating Entropy Changes |
Due 10/28 at 8am: Chapter 5 Homework Chapter 6 Homework Chapter 8 Homework Gas Properties Due 10/30 at 8am: SB: T9 Expansion: Calculating Entropy Changes |
| 11/2 | Ch 9 Calculating Entropy Changes | |
| 11/9 | Ch 10 Heat Engines | Due 11/9 at 8am: SB: T10 Expansion: Heat Engines |
| 11/16 | Ch 10 Heat Engines | |
| 11/23 | Thermodynamic Potentials | |
| 11/30 | Phases Exam 4 (W 12/2 Ch 9-10+) |
Due 12/2 at 8am: Chapter 10 Homework Which of these devices are heat engines? Due 12/3 at 11:59pm: Chapter 9 Homework Due 12/4 at 8am: SB:T11 Expansion: The Physics of Climate Change Due 12/4 at 8pm: Chapter 11 Homework |
| 12/7 | OPTIONAL! Reassessments (M 12/10 All) |
The course schedule, policies, procedures, and assignments in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, by mutual agreement, and/or to ensure better learning.