Syllabus for ME 495 — Statistical Mechanics

Spring 2015

News

(05 Jan 2015 | 03:44 PM) First day of class: Monday January 12!

Course description

The course will introduce students to the concepts of statistical mechanics. Microscopic interactions are connected to macroscopic thermodynamic system behavior. Topics include probability, the kinetic theory of gases, Liouville's theorem, conservation laws, the entropy of mixing, the microcanonical ensemble, the canonical ensemble, Hamiltonian mechanics, and an introduction to quantum mechanics. (Adopted from the course catalog.)

General information

Instructor: Rico Picone, PhD
Instructor Email: rpicone (at) stmartin (dot) edu
Office Hours: MWF 10 am–11 am, Cebula 103C
Office Hours: MW 1 pm–2 pm, Cebula 103C
Location: Harned 107
Times: M 5:00–7:20 pm
Website: ME 495 Website
Moodle: ME 495 Moodle

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Textbooks

James P. Sethna. Statistical Mechanics : Entropy, Order Parameters, and Complexity. Oxford University Press, 2011.

Notes

Partial notes will be posted here.

Schedule

The following schedule is tentative.

week	topics introduced	reading	assignment due
1	introduction, probability, and statistics	Ch 1	Assignment #1
2	probability and statistics		Assignment #2
3	probability and statistics		Assignment #3
4	random walks and emergent properties	Ch 2	Assignment #4
5	random walks and emergent properties		Assignment #5
6	phase-space dynamics and ergodicity		Assignment #6
7	phase-space dynamics and ergodicity		Assignment #7, Midterm #1
8	entropy	Ch 5	Assignment #8
9	entropy		Assignment #9
10	free energies		Assignment #10
11	free energies		Assignment #11
12	quantum mechanics		Assignment #12, Midterm #2
13	quantum statistical mechanics	Ch 6	Assignment #13
14	correlation, response, and dissipation	Ch 10	Assignment #14
15	correlation, response, and dissipation		Assignment #15
16	finals week		Final Exam

Assignments

Resources

Class resources will be posted here throughout the semester.

Homework, quiz, & exam policies

Homework & homework quiz policies

Weekly homework will be “due” on Fridays, but it will not be turned in for credit. However — and this is very important — each week a quiz will be given that will cover that week’s homework.

Quizzes will be available on moodle each week (as early as I can get them up), and must be completed by Sunday (before midnight). Late quizzes will receive no credit. Multiple attempts may be made on the quizzes (you will receive your mean grade).

Working in groups on homework is strongly encouraged, but quizzes must be completed individually.

Exam policies

The midterm and final exams will be in-class. If you require any specific accommodations, please contact me.

Calculators will be allowed. Only ones own notes and the notes provided by the instructor will be allowed. No communication-devices will be allowed.

No exam may be taken early. Makeup exams require a doctor’s note excusing the absence during the exam.

The final exam will be cumulative.

Grading policies

Total grades in the course may be curved, but individual homework quizzes and exams will not be. They will be available on moodle throughout the semester.

Homework quizzes: 20%
Midterm Exam #1: 25%
Midterm Exam #2: 25%
Final Exam: 30%

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Academic integrity policy

Cheating or plagiarism of any kind is not tolerated and will result in a failing grade (“F”) in the course. I take this very seriously. Engineering is an academic and professional discipline that requires integrity. I expect students to consider their integrity of conduct to be their highest consideration with regard to the course material.

Correlation of course & program outcomes

In keeping with the standards of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, each course is evaluated in terms of its desired outcomes and how these support the desired program outcomes. The following sections document the evaluation of this course.

Desired course outcomes

Upon completion of the course, the following course outcomes are desired:

students will have a clear and thorough understanding of concepts, principles, and methods of modeling rotational-mechanical, translational-mechanical, electrical, fluid, and thermal systems;
students will have a clear and thorough understanding of concepts, principles, and methods of modeling the interfaces rotational-mechanical, translational-mechanical, electrical, fluid, and thermal systems;
...;

Desired program outcomes

The desired program outcomes are that mechanical engineering graduates have:

an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering;
an ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data;
an ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs;
an ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams;
an ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems;
an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility;
an ability to communicate effectively;
the broad education necessary to understanding the impact of engineering solutions in a global and social context;
a recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning;
a knowledge of contemporary issues; and
an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice

Correlation of outcomes

The following table correlates the desired course outcomes with the desired program outcomes they support.

		desired program outcomes
		A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I	J	K
desired course outcomes	1	✔	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌
	2	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌
	3	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌
	4	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌
	5	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌
	6	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌
	7	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌
	8	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌
	9	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌
	10	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌	‌

Syllabus for ME 495 — Statistical Mechanics

News

Course description

General information

Textbooks

Notes

Schedule

Assignments

Assignment #1

Assignment #2

Assignment #3

Assignment #4

Assignment #5

Assignment #6

Assignment #7

Assignment #8

Assignment #9

Assignment #10

Assignment #11

Assignment #12

Assignment #13

Assignment #14

Assignment #15