Innovative, wide-ranging treatment, suitable for advanced undergraduates and graduate students, covers negative temperatures and heat capacities, general and special relativistic effects, black hole thermodynamics, gravitational collapse, and more. Problems with worked solutions. 1978 edition.

This book contains a modern selection of about 200 solved problems and examples arranged in a didactic way for hands-on experience with course work in a standard advanced undergraduate/first-year graduate class in thermodynamics and statistical physics. The principles of thermodynamics and equilibrium statistical physics are few and simple, but their application often proves more involved than it may seem at first sight. This book is a comprehensive complement to any textbook in the field, emphasizing the analogies between the different systems, and paves the way for an in-depth study of solid state physics, soft matter physics, and field theory.

Volume 5.

Well respected, widely used volume presents problems and full solutions related to a wide range of topics in thermodynamics, statistical physics, statistical mechanics. Suitable for undergraduates and graduate students, self-study, reference. 1989 edition.

This book is a sequel to my Chemical Thermodynamics: A Prob lems Approach published in 1967, which concerned classical thermodynamics almost exclusively. Most books on statistical thermodynamics now available are written either for the superior general chemistry student or for the specialist. The author has felt the need for a text which would bring the intermediate reader to the point where he could not only appreciate the roots of the subject but also have some facility in calculating thermodynamic quantities. Although statistical thermodynamics comprises an essential part of the college training of a chemist, its treatment in general physical chem istry texts is, of necessity, compressed to the point where the less competent student is unable to appreciate or comprehend its logic and beauty, and is reduced to memorizing a series of formulas. It has been my aim to fill this need by writing a logical account of the foundations and applications of the sub ject at a level which can be grasped by an undergraduate who has had some exposure to calculus and to the basic concepts of classical thermodynamics. It can serve as a text or supple mentary reading for a course, or provide the means whereby one could become conversant with the subject on his own, without the benefit of an instructor.

A thorough understanding of statistical mechanics depends strongly on the insights and manipulative skills that are acquired through the solving of problems. Problems on Statistical Mechanics provides over 120 problems with model solutions, illustrating both basic principles and applications that range from solid-state physics to cosmology. An introductory chapter provides a summary of the basic concepts and results that are needed to tackle the problems, and also serves to establish the notation that is used throughout the book. The problems themselves occupy five chapters, progressing from the simpler aspects of thermodynamics and equilibrium statistical ensembles to the more challenging ideas associated with strongly interacting systems and nonequilibrium processes. Comprehensive solutions to all of the problems are designed to illustrate efficient and elegant problem-solving techniques. Where appropriate, the authors incorporate extended discussions of the points of principle that arise in the course of the solutions. The appendix provides useful mathematical formulae.

This volume is a compilation of carefully selected questions at the PhD qualifying exam level, including many actual questions from Columbia University, University of Chicago, MIT, State University of New York at Buffalo, Princeton University, University of Wisconsin and the University of California at Berkeley over a twenty-year period. Topics covered in this book include dynamics of systems of point masses, rigid bodies and deformable bodies, Lagrange's and Hamilton's equations, and special relativity.This latest edition has been updated with more problems and solutions and the original problems have also been modernized, excluding outdated questions and emphasizing those that rely on calculations. The problems range from fundamental to advanced in a wide range of topics on mechanics, easily enhancing the student's knowledge through workable exercises. Simple-to-solve problems play a useful role as a first check of the student's level of knowledge whereas difficult problems will challenge the student's capacity on finding the solutions.