THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGHSCHOOL OF PHYSICS |
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If you wish to run the notebook you will need some software installed which can deal with jupyter notebooks. We recommend Anaconda, which you can get free here.
https://www.anaconda.com/download
If you dont want to install anything, a slowish online alternative is here:
https://jupyter.org/try
Your third alternative is to make friends with someone who already has the software and learn together!
Super enthusiastic students can take a whole lecture course: materials below.
Prof. Ackland will deal with issues specifically about this webpage, or interesting questions about the tutorials (i.e. not, "please find my missing minus sign..."). Or about chickens.
The lectures weren't designed with recording in mind. They start with an irrelevant quiz while people are arriving, so don't worry about anything before the "Previously on Thermodynamics" slide. I have a good face for radio, so enjoy the fact that I'm off-screen most of the time.
Welcome to the homepage for Junior Honours Thermal Physics Part 1:
Thermodynamics. Here you will find lecture notes, tutorial sheets,
hand-in questions etc. The recommended text on which the course is
based is "Thermal Physics" by Finn. There are several copies of the
second edition in the library. The Third edition "Finn's Thermal Physics" was updated by Andrew Rex.
You should also use my Inverted Textbook on Thermodynamics available
free online.
Questions
and
Quetsions and Answers (Second edition)
Thermodynamics is a fantastic and subtle subject - enjoy!
Course involves 18 formal lectures and two demonstration-led lectures (all examinable).
Mo JCMB 5326/7/8; 14h10-16h00
Th JCMB 4325c; 14h10-16h00
In principle, the rooms are not large enough to accommodate everyone, but if there is space you are welcome to come to both.
Each tutorial will start with a demonstrator-led activity. These will be:
Week 2 Relative energies
Week 3 MCQ test
Week 4 Exam style question T3 on expansion process
Week 5 MCQ test
Week 6 Exam style question T5
Week 7 MCQ test
Week 8 Exam style question T7
Week 9 MCQ test
Week 10 Exam style question T9
Week 11 MCQ test
The MCQs are done through TopHat with join code 911861 A non-assessed quizzes on prerequisite material are available, and mid-smester feeback forms.
I previously posted solutions to the hand-ins and tutorials after the fact. Unfortunately, too many people took this as a cue not to attempt the work until the solutions were available. So the solutions are available from the beginning, on bookboon. It's a much better learning method to try the questions cold first, use the solutions to give yourself feedback on what you did wrong, then try again if there's anything you don't understand mistakes. Despite making the answers available immediately, I hope you will resist temptation to peek, and use them as feedback. Do look at the solutions eventually, as they contain commentary on what physics the question relates to, as well as checking answers.
The overheads used in lectures are not intended to make sense on their own. All necessary information is in the lecture notes, questions and solutions, and in Finn.
There will be a short mini-project. This is worth 50% of the coursework mark and may be tackled individually or as a self-assembled group (q.v.). FEEDBACK ON THE MINIPROJECT
We know that students often work closely together on handins. This is a good way to learn. Technically, it is also plagiarism, so we have a process to regularise the situation.
1/ The online tests are done individually, in a short period at the start of the tutorial.
2/ You may work on the mini-project in self-organised groups of up to six. There is no obligation to do this, nor is there any constraint by degree program.
3/ If you do, you must hand in a single submission, with ALL barcodes attached.
4/ Group submission will have no reduction in marks.
Assessment 1: Ramjet. Indicative marking scheme, parts a-i ( 2,2,3,3,5,3,3,2,2) FEEDBACK
Assessment 2: Steam engine Indicative marking scheme, parts a-i ( 2,3,2,3,5,3,3,2,2) FEEDBACK
Assessment 3: Magnetic Fridge Indicative marking scheme, parts a-i ( 3,2,2,3,4,2,3,4,2) FEEDBACK
Assessment 4: Phase Transition Indicative marking scheme, parts 1-7 (2,2,2,4,4,3,4,4). FEEDBACK
You should attempt the tutorial problems in advance of the problems class feedback session.
LECTURES: Will cover the foundations and proofs of thermodynamics, illustrated with examples drawn for various physics problems..
TUTORIAL SHEETS: Will give you the chance to train your skills by practice on a series of problems.
TUTORIALS: Give you a chance to discuss the problems you encountered in doing the tutorial sheet, and get feedback on your solutions.
TUTORIAL SOLUTIONS: Are lengthy and contain not only the answers, but some in-depth description of what physical points the question has been designed to illustrate.
Both lectures and tutorials will cover theory and the practical application by relating it to physical systems which are somewhat familiar. REMEMBER: The Mon/Thurs problem classes are your chance to get feedback on your work from Prof Ackland and two demonstrators I'm going to work on the assumption that anyone who doesn't come is able to do the problems without needing assistance or feedback.
Previous Examination Papers can be found via the central University Library site. This requires an Edinburgh University login. Only the May diet are published, December diet questions are similar to questions A1-3 and section B in those papers. From 2019, the exam format is changed so that you need only answer ALL Section A (1-3 Thermodynamics, 4-6 statistical mechanics), ONE question from section B (Thermodynamics) and ONE from section C (Statistical mechanics). The December exam has three short "Section A" questions and one out of two long "Section B" questions.
Although there will always be some rote-learnable
sections, the examination questions will probe whether you
understand what you've been taught, not simply whether you can
remember it.
The purpose of this course is to teach you some physics, not
to help you pass the examination. But if you are interested in passing
the examination, it is a good idea to practice with some past papers.
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
There will be additional sessions prior to the examination
period in which you can ask for feedback on your attempts at previous
examination papers. Remember that while a tutorial problem gives you
practice at testing you own understanding, an examination answer also
requires you to communicate that information to another human being
who marks the paper. A very instructive way to check this is to
attempt a paper under exam conditions and then get a friend to mark it
The overall mark is split between Coursework, 20% and Degree Examination, 80%
(1) Finn, 'Thermal Physics' ; New Version 2017 "Finn's Thermal Physics" by Andrew Rex
(2) Ackland 'An inverted textbook on Thermodynamics'
Questions
and
Answers