Classical Physics of Matter

Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
Table of Contents
Introduction
Chapter 1 From atoms to the phases of matter
1 A puzzle
2 Atoms: the building blocks of matter
2.1 The concept of an atom
2.2 Atomic sizes
2.3 Isotopes and ions
2.4 Atomic masses
2.5 Interactions between atoms
3 Atomic descriptions of the phases of matter
3.1 The gas phase
3.2 The liquid phase
3.3 The solid phase
4 Macroscopic variables
4.1 Density
4.2 Pressure
4.3 Temperature
4.4 Internal energy
4.5 Molar quantities
4.6 Response functions
5 Macroscopic equilibrium in ideal gases
5.1 Experiments on gases
5.2 The absolute temperature scale
5.3 The equation of state of an ideal gas
5.4 Internal energy equations of ideal gases
5.5 A puzzle resolved
6 Macroscopic descriptions of the phases of matter
6.1 The generic PVT surface and phases of matter
6.2 The generic UPT surface and latent heats
7 Closing items
Chapter 2 Microscopic models of gases
1 Introduction
2 Chance and probability
2.1 Probability
2.2 Average values
2.3 Fluctuations
2.4 Dicing with Boltzmann
3 The pressure of a gas
3.1 Molecular bombardment
3.2 The simple gas model
3.3 Calculating the pressure
4 Distributions of speed and translational energy in gases
4.1 Measuring the distribution of molecular speeds
4.2 Analysing the experiment in terms of translational energy
4.3 What do the distributions of speed and translational energy depend on?
4.4 Distribution functions
5 Statistical mechanics
5.1 From chance to practical certainty
5.2 Defining configurations in a gas
5.3 Assigning probabilities to configurations
5.4 The Boltzmann distribution law
5.5 The distribution of molecular speed
5.6 The distribution of molecular translational energy
6 The equipartition of energy
6.1 Application to gases
6.2 Application to solids
7 Closing items
Appendix to Chapter 2 Computer simulations
Chapter 3 Thermodynamics and entropy
1 Engine efficiency — an effect of thermodynamics
2 The first law of thermodynamics
2.1 Systems, states and processes
2.2 Heat and work
2.3 The first law of thermodynamics
2.4 The first law and heat capacities
2.5 Isothermal and adiabatic processes
3 The second law of thermodynamics
3.1 Reversible and irreversible processes
3.2 Adiabatic accessibility and the second law
3.3 Defining entropy
3.4 Entropy and heat flow
3.5 But what is entropy anyway?
4 Entropy, engines and refrigerators
4.1 Heat engines
4.2 Refrigerators
4.3 The third law of thermodynamics
5 Closing items
Chapter 4 The physics of fluids
1 Introduction
2 Fluids at rest
2.1 Pressure in a fluid
2.2 The pressure experienced by a diver
2.3 The pressure experienced by a mountaineer
2.4 Buoyancy and Archimedes' principle
3 Ideal fluids in motion
3.1 Ideal flow
3.2 Conservation of mass and the equation of continuity
3.3 Conservation of energy and Bernoulli's equation
3.4 Bernoulli's principle in action
4 Non-ideal fluids in motion
4.1 Viscosity
4.2 Dynamical similarity and Reynolds number
4.3 Turbulence and its onset
4.4 The boundary layer
5 Flight
6 Closing items
Chapter 5 Consolidation and skills development
1 Introduction
2 Overview of Chapters 1 to 4
2.1 The atomic hypothesis
2.2 The macroscopic view
2.3 A statistical approach to physics
2.4 The laws of thermodynamics
2.5 The meaning of temperature
2.6 The physics of fluids
3 Writing precise physical statements
4 Basic skills and knowledge test
5 Interactive questions
6 Physica problems
Answers and comments
Acknowledgements
Index