Explore UCD

UCD Home >

PHYC20100

Academic Year 2026/2027

Thermo & Stat Physics (PHYC20100)

Subject:
Physics
College:
Science
School:
Physics
Level:
2 (Intermediate)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Ciarán Hickey
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

The concepts of thermodynamics and statistical physics see wide application across both physics and the sciences more generally. To elucidate this, the module will be split into two interconnected parts. The first part focuses on thermodynamics, both as the macroscopic manifestation of statistical mechanics and as a stand-alone framework in its own right. The second part focuses on statistical mechanics, building up definitions of concepts such as temperature, entropy and heat from microscopic foundations.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

Understanding the fundamental concepts of thermodynamics and statistical physics, with the ability to understand, assess and solve problems in this important area of physics.

Indicative Module Content:

The first part of the module discusses the key concepts of thermodynamics, including the laws of thermodynamics, heat engines and refrigerators, and the various thermodynamic processes and potentials.

The second part of the module covers the basic topics of statistical mechanics, including the statistical definitions of temperature and entropy, the various ensembles, the partition function, Maxwell-Boltzmann, Fermi-Dirac and Bose-Einstein statistics and Planck's law.

Part I. Thermodynamics [4 weeks]:

Chapter I.1: Basic Concepts of Thermodynamics
Chapter I.2: Temperature and the Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics
Chapter I.3: Energy and the First Law of Thermodynamics
Chapter I.4: Entropy, Heat Engines and the Second Law of Thermodynamics
Chapter I.5: Heat Capacity and the Third Law of Thermodynamics
Chapter I.6: Free Energies
Chapter I.7: Phase Transformations

Part II. Statistical Mechanics [8 weeks]:

Chapter II.1: Basics of Probability
Chapter II.2: Microstates and Macrostates
Chapter II.3: The Fundamental Assumption
Chapter II.4: Thermal Equilibrium
Chapter II.5: Entropy and Temperature
Chapter II.6: The Canonical Ensemble
Chapter II.7: Thermodynamics of a Two-Level System
Chapter II.8: The Planck Distribution
Chapter II.9: Classical Ideal Gas
Chapter II.10: Chemical Potential
Chapter II.11: The Grand Canonical Ensemble
Chapter II.12: Particle Distribution Functions

The United Nations identified seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as core to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and UCD contributes in general to SDG 4 Quality Education. Further SDGs explored within this module if relevant are listed below. A scale of 1 - 5 indicates the extent to which the SDG is covered.


 

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

36
Specified Learning Activities

40
Autonomous Student Learning

44
Total

120

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures; Reflective Learning; Enquiry & Problem-Based Learning

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Pre-requisite:
PHYC10250 - Thermal Physics and Materials, PHYC20030 - Thermal Physics and Materials

Incompatibles:
PHYC30010 - Thermo & Stat Physics

Additional Information:
The students must have taken a prior module in "Thermal Physics and Materials" , such as PHYC10250 or PHYC20030. Please see the module description for PHYC10250 (or the older) PHYC20030 for topics that are pre-requisites for PHYC20100.


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Exam (Open Book): In-class test Week 4 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
10
 No
Exam (Open Book): In-class test Week 11 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
10
 No
Assignment(Including Essay): Problem Set 1 Week 3 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
5
 No
Assignment(Including Essay): Problem Set 3 Week 8 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
5
 No
Exam (In-person): Final written exam End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
70
 No

Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback is given on homework assignments. This prepares students for the final examination. Individual feedback can be provided to students directly from the lecturer if sought.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Fri 16:00 - 16:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Thurs 09:00 - 09:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Tues 09:00 - 09:50
Print this page
Fill in the following details:
Enter the body of your query here.

From time to time UCD would like to send you further information that we feel, based on your enquiry, would be of interest to you.