Oct 12, 2024  
2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

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PHYS 342 - Thermodynamics


Description:
The laws of thermodynamics and its application to macroscopic systems.

Prerequisites:
Co- or prerequisite: PHYS 317 and MATH 376.

Credits: (4)

Learner Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

  • Apply the zeroth, first, second, and third laws of thermodynamics to solve conceptual and quantitative thermodynamics problems.
  • Calculate pressure, temperature, and/or volume for both ideal and non-ideal gases. 
  • Summarize the role of thermodynamic microstates and macrostates in the second law of thermodynamics.
  • Analyze idealized and realistic thermodynamic cycles to describe the operating principals of heat engines, steam engines, and refrigerators.
  • Distinguish between first and second-order phase transitions in physical systems; calculate latent heat and discontinuous volume changes for first-order phase transitions.
  • Evaluate calculations of thermodynamic potentials including internal energy, Helmholtz free energy, and Gibbs free energy to predict phase stability.
  • Apply appropriate mathematical methods to solve problems in statistical mechanics.

Learner Outcomes Approval Date:
2/21/20

Anticipated Course Offering Terms and Locations:
Spring Locations: Ellensburg



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