Thermal Physics Tutorial with Python Simulations

This book provides an accessible introduction to thermal physics with computational approaches that complement the traditional mathematical treatments of classical thermodynamics and statistical mechanics. It guides readers through visualizations and simulations in the Python programming language, helping them to develop their own technical computing skills (including numerical and symbolic calculations, optimizations, recursive operations, and visualizations). Python is a highly readable and practical programming language, making this book appropriate for students without extensive programming experience.

This book may serve as a thermal physics textbook for a semester-long undergraduate thermal physics course or may be used as a tutorial on scientific computing with focused examples from thermal physics. This book will also appeal to engineering students studying intermediate-level thermodynamics as well as computer science students looking to understand how to apply their computer programming skills to science.

Key features

• Major concepts in thermal physics are introduced cohesively through computational and mathematical treatments.
• Computational examples in Python programming language guide students on how to simulate and visualize thermodynamic principles and processes for themselves.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Calculating

Section I Classical Thermodynamics

Chapter 2 Kinetic Theory of Gas

Chapter 3 Velocity Distribution

Chapter 4 Thermal Processes

Section II Statistical Mechanics

Chapter 5 Premise of Statistical Mechanics

Chapter 6 Revisiting Ideal Gas

Chapter 7 Revisiting Thermal Processes

Chapter 8 Entropy, Temperature, Energy, and Other Potentials

Section III Examples

Chapter 9 Two-State System

Chapter 10 Specific Heat

Chapter 11 Random and Guided Walks

Appendix

APPENDIX A:GETTING STARTED WITH PYTHON

APPENDIX B:PYTHON PROGRAMMING BASICS

APPENDIX C:PLOTS

APPENDIX D:COLORS

APPENDIX E:ANIMATION

About the Authors

Taejoon Kouh is a Professor of Nano and Electronic Physics at Kookmin University, Republic of Korea.

Minjoon Kouh is a Professor of Physics and Neuroscience at Drew University, USA.