Teaching

Introduction to Statistical Mechanics
The University of Ottawa / September 2022
CHM8309 G00

Course Description:

This course provides an introduction to statistical mechanics for graduate students of chemistry, physics, and engineering. A background corresponding the undergraduate physical chemistry (including thermodynamics and some quantum mechanics) is required.

Please click for Course syllabus, recommended textbooks, and marking scheme.

2022 Lecture slides. Corresponding sections in the textbook are indicated:

0) Summary

1) Introduction to Statistical Mechanics

2) Simple Classical and Quantum Mechanical Systems (MS: Chapter 2, Secs. 2.1 - 2.3, 2.8. Appendix)

3) Concepts in Probability Theory (MS: Chapter 5, Sec. 5.1 to 5.3)

4) The Maxwell-Boltzmann Distribution (MS: Chapter 5, Sec. 5.4 to 5.4.3) 

5) Lagrangian Multipliers for Constrained Optimization (MS: Chapter 4, Sec. 4.A.3)

6) The Canonical Ensemble (MS: Chapter 6)

7) Other Ensembles (MS: Chapter 6)

8) Statistical Mechanics of Ideal Gases and Chemical Equilibrium 

 

Problem Set. Due Oct. 7, 2022. Solutions with supporting Excel file.

Topics for end-of-term presentation.  Comments form for student presentations.

Presentations

Marco's presentation. 

Phuc's presentation.

 

Other Supporting Material for Reference and Download:

  1. Introduction to Gnuplot for plotting mathematical functions and an exercise
  2. Exam study questions.   

 

 

 

 

Old 2020 versions of the lectures with narration that were prepared for remote teaching:

  1. Lecture 1. Course Introduction and Statistical Mechanics (Lecture with narration).
  2. Lecture 2. Review of simple systems in classical and quantum mechanics: Part 1, Part 2. (Chapter 2, Secs. 2.1 - 2.3, 2.8. Appendix)
  3. Lecture 3. Probability concepts: Part 1, Part 2. (Chapter 5, Sec. 5.1 to 5.3)
  4. Lecture 4. The Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution. Part 1, Part 2. (Chapter 5, Sec. 5.4 to 5.4.3) 
  5. Lecture 5. Method of Lagrangian multipliers. (Chapter 4, Sec. 4.A.3)
  6. Lecture 6. The Canonical ensemble. Part 1, Part 2, Part 3. (Chapter 6)
  7. Lecture 7. Other ensembles. (Chapter 6)
  8. Lecture 8. Statistical mechanics of ideal gases. Part 1, Part 2
  9. Lecture 9. Chemical equilibrium in the gas phase