The Final

The final is Wednesday December 20 at 8:00 a.m. in our classroom. Note the following:

  • This table of integrals will be provided.
  • Bring a pocket calculator of any sort.
  • Bring a hand written page of formulas front and back

    If you type it I will have to mercilessly throw it in the garbage -- I didn't like it, but I did do it last year.

    • The exam will focus homeworks 8-12. Some material from the previous homeworks is also needed to answer questions on these homeworks:

    • Partition functions of simple systems, both quantum and classical, as well as computing the entropy and free energy of these systems, e.g. the simple paramagnet.
    • The ideal gas (with internal states) and mono-atomic and diatomic gasses.
    • Chemical equilbirium and the grand canonical ensemble
    • The photon and neutrino gasses
    • The degenerate Fermi gas.

    Working through problems of this sort in 1d, 2d, and 3d can be quite helpful.

    The content from homework's 1-7 is needed to some extent, but will not be the focus. Here is some concrete guidance:

    • Engines: no.
    • Equipartition theorem and estimates: yes
    • Compute the entropy change when two gasses mix: no
    • Basic partition functions. The classical and quantum oscillators and their interdependence -- yes.
    • Ideal gas velocity / momentum distribution: yes, but probably more focussed on the end of the course.

      • Previous Exams

      Past years did not cover the degenerate fermi gas. This years final probably will. We also covered more about chemical equilibrium.