Course Syllabus for Spring 2006, PY 413 section

Instructor Contact Information:
Name: Thomas Schaefer
Office: 210 BOM
Telephone: 515-7199
E-mail address:

Regularly Scheduled Class Meeting Times: MWF 9:10 am to 10:00 pm

Office Hours: Mo. 1:00-3:00 and by appointment

Course Prerequisites:
The prerequisites for PY 413 are PY 203 or 407, MA 341 MA 141. Students not meeting this requirement must either drop the course or present a written request for exemption signed by the appropriate person in the Academic Affairs Office or Dean's Office of their College (COE students go to 120 Page Hall). A procedure for the latter will be given in class. Students not meeting the prerequisites, who do not obtain an approved exemption, may be dropped from the roll.

Student Learning Objectives:
An introduction to statistical mechanics and thermodynamics. The statistical study of physical systems emphasizing the connection between the statistical description of macroscopic systems and classical thermodynamics. Concepts of heat, internal energy, temperature and entropy. Classical and quantum statistical distributions.

Textbooks:
TitleYearPrice
Daniel V. Schroeder: An Introduction to Thermal Physics (Addison Wesley) 1999 $50.67

Click here for information regarding the schedule, organization, and major topics of this course.

Grading Policy:
The final grade will be determined by weighting the various portions of the course as follows: Midterm: 20% Final: 40% Homework: 40%

Late Assignments and Incomplete Grades:
Extensions will be granted on homework deadlines for students with excused absences. Partially completed work will be given partial credit.

Absences and Scheduling Makeup Work:
Students are strongly encouraged to attend the lectures, but attendance will not be taken.

Statement on Academic Integrity:
The instructor of this course is committed to upholding the University policy on academic integrity, as described in the Code of Student Conduct, which can be found at: http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/student_services/student_discipline/POL11.35.1.php (see especially Section 1 and Sections 7 through 12).

Statement for students with disabilities:
Reasonable accommodations will be made for students with verifiable disabilities. In order to take advantage of available accommodations, students must register with Disability Services for Students at 1900 Student Health Center, Campus Box 7509, 515-7653. http://www.ncsu.edu/provost/offices/affirm_action/dss/ For more information on NC State's policy on working with students with disabilities, please see http://www.ncsu.edu/provost/hat/current/appendix/appen_k.html.

Statement on laboratory safety or risk assumption:
PY413 does not have a laboratory component.

Statement on extra expenses:
Beyond the purchase of a textbook and a suitable calculator, there are no significant extra expenses.

Statement on transportation:
All class meetings and exams are conducted on campus. Transportation to an off-campus site is not required.