This is an archived course. A more recent version may be available at ocw.mit.edu.

 

Lecture Notes

The following lecture notes are from the Spring 2004 version of the class. The topics do not follow the exact order that is shown on the Calendar, but most of the same topics are covered. These lecture notes were prepared by Prof. Thomas Greytak.

LEC # TOPICS
1 One Random Variable (PDF)
2 One Random Variable (cont.) (PDF)
3 Two Random Variables (PDF)
4 Two Random Variables (cont.) (PDF)
5 Functions of a Random Variable (PDF)
6 Functions of a Random Variable (cont.) (PDF)
7 Sums of Random Variables (PDF)
8 Central Limit Theorem (PDF)
9 Thermodynamic Variables, Existence of Temperature (PDF)
10 Empirical Temperature, Work, Exact Differentials (PDF)
11 First Law of Thermodynamics (PDF)
12 Paths, Adiabatic and Others (PDF)
13 Microcanonical Ensemble (PDF)
14 Entropy and Temperature (PDF)
15 Second Law (PDF)
16 Two Level System (PDF)
17 Entropy and Consequences of the Second Law (PDF)
18 Thermodynamic Potentials and Maxwell Relations (PDF)
19 Engines, Carnot and Others (PDF)
20 Refrigerators, Third Law (PDF)
21 Canonical Ensemble (PDF)
22 Canonical Ensemble (cont.) (PDF)
23 2 Level Systems, Monatomic Gas, H.O. (PDF)
24 Polyatomic Gases, Vibrational Modes (PDF)
25 Polyatomic Gases, Rotational Modes (PDF)
26 Thermal Radiation, Basics (PDF)
27 Thermal Radiation, Thermodynamics (PDF)
28 Thermal Radiation, Statistical Mechanics (PDF)
29 Quantum Mechanics of Identical Particles (PDF)
30 Composite Particles, Density of States (PDF)
31 Fermions at and near T=0 (PDF)
32 Stars (PDF)
33 Bose-Einstein Condensation (PDF)
34 Spin 1/2 Paramagnet (PDF)
35 General Quantum Paramagnet (PDF)
36 Adiabatic Demagnetization, Electronic and Nuclear (PDF)