PHYS 420Thermal Physics

3 credits · Physics · Penn State

Basic postulates of statistical mechanics and thermodynamics, microscopic quantum states and macroscopic parameters; partition functions; Maxwell- Boltzmann and quantum statistics.

Before you enroll

Prerequisites

You need one from each line:

MATH 250 or MATH 251
MATH 230 or MATH 231
PHYS 237

Where it fits

Where it sits in degree plans

Suggested plans most often put it in Year 4 · Spring (1 program).

Required in (2)

Physics, B.S. (Behrend)
Physics, B.S. (Science)

What it opens up

Courses that list PHYS 420 as a prerequisite (1)

PHYS 430 Introduction to Computational Physics