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Thermal physics
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bose–Einstein condensate - representative image of thermal physics.

Thermal physics is the combined study of thermodynamics, statistical mechanics, and
kinetic theory. This umbrella-subject is typically designed for physics students and
functions to provide a general introduction to each of three core heat-related
subjects. Other authors, however, define thermal physics loosely as a summation of
only thermodynamics and statistical mechanics.[1]

Contents [hide]
1 Overview
2 See also
3 References
4 Further reading
5 External links
Overview[edit]
Thermal physics, generally speaking, is the study of the statistical nature of
physical systems from an energetic perspective. Starting with the basics of heat and
temperature, thermal physics analyzes the first law of thermodynamics and second law
of thermodynamics from the statistical perspective, in terms of the number of
microstates corresponding to a given macrostate. In addition, the concept of entropy
is studied via quantum theory.

A central topic in thermal physics is the canonical probability distribution. The

electromagnetic nature of photons and phonons are studied which show that the
oscillations of electromagnetic fields and of crystal lattices have much in common.
Waves form a basis for both, provided one incorporates quantum theory.

Other topics studied in thermal physics include: chemical potential, the quantum
nature of an ideal gas, i.e. in terms of fermions and bosons, Bose–Einstein
condensation, Gibbs free energy, Helmholtz free energy, chemical equilibrium, phase
equilibrium, the equipartition theorem, entropy at absolute zero, and transport
processes as mean free path, viscosity, and conduction.[2]

See also[edit]
icon Physics portal
Philosophy of thermal and statistical physics
Thermal science
Thermodynamic instruments
Heat transfer physics
References[edit]
Jump up ^ Chang Lee, Joon (2001). Thermal Physics – Entropy and Free Energies. World
Scientific. ISBN 981-02-4874-1.
Jump up ^ Ralph, R. (1999). Thermal Physics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
ISBN 0-521-65838-1
Further reading[edit]
Callen, Herbert B. (1985). Thermodynamics and an Introduction to Thermostatistics
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(2nd ed.). Wiley. ISBN 0-471-86256-8.
Kroemer, Herbert; Kittel, Charles (1980). Thermal Physics (2nd ed.). W. H. Freeman
Company. ISBN 0-716-71088-9.
Schroeder, Daniel V. (1999). An Introduction to Thermal Physics. Addison Wesley.
ISBN 0-201-38027-7.
External links

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