| Prof: Jonathan
Bain |
Mon/Weds 12:30pm-2:20pm
|
Office: LC124
|
Room: JAB 773
|
Off. hr: Tues 12:30-1:30pm,
or by appointment
|
phone: 646.997.3688 |
I. Description
What is the nature of heat? And how does it relate
to atoms, black holes, information, and a demon in a box
full of gas molecules? This course answers these and
similar questions by a survey of the history of
thermodynamics. We will begin with developments in
the science of thermometry in the 18th and 19th centuries,
and then trace the development of thermodynamics from 18th
century caloric theories of heat, to 19th century analyses
of steam engines, the kinetic theory of gases, the
statistical approach to mechanics, atomic theories of
matter, the concept of entropy, 20th century concepts of
information, and finally current applications to black
holes (as well as Maxwell and his famous Demon).
II. Required Reading
A. At Bookstore:
| 1. |
Chang, H. (2007) Inventing
Temperature: Measurement and Scientific
Progress, Oxford Univ. Press.
|
2.
|
Smith,
C. (1998) The
Science of Energy: A Cultural History of
Energy Physics in Victorian Britian,
Univ. of Chicago Press.
|
B. Online:
1.
|
Bokulich, P. and
Curiel, E. (2009) "Singularities and Black
Holes", in E. Zalta (ed.) Stanford
Encyclopedia of Philosophy. |
2.
|
Brush, S. (1970)
"The Wave Theory of Heat: A Forgotten
Stage in the Transition from the Caloric Theory
to Thermodynamics", The British Journal for the History
of Science 3: 145-167. |
3.
|
Earman, E. and J.
Norton (1999) "Exorcist XIV:
The Wrath of Maxwell's Demon. Part II.
From Szilard to Landauer and Beyond", Stud. Hist. Phil.
Mod. Phys. 30: 1-40. |
4.
|
Earman, E. and J.
Norton (1998) "Exocist XIV:
The Wrath of Maxwell's Demon. Part I.
From Maxwell to Szilard", Stud. Hist. Phil.
Mod. Phys. 29: 435-471. |
5.
|
Morris, R. (1972)
"Lavoisier and the Caloric Theory", BJHS 6:
1-38.
|
6.
|
Sklar, L. (1993)
Physics and
Chance, Cambridge University Press
(excerpts).
|
III. Requirements
1.
|
Attendance
is mandatory.
A sign-in sheet will be passed out at the
begining of each lecture. If you
feel that you will not be able to attend all
lectures, please do not enroll in this class.
|
| 2. |
Two
papers of 5-7 pages. Suggested
topics are provided at least 2 weeks before their
due dates.
(a)
|
All papers must conform to
writing guidelines
handed out in class.
|
(b)
|
Late paper
policy:
Late papers will be accepted but will be
given an initial penalty of a third of a
grade point, and a further penalty of a
third of a grade point for every period of
4 days after the due date. Example:
An
A paper turned in one day late will
receive an A-; an A paper turned in 4 days
late will receive a B+; an A paper turned
in 8 days late will receive a B; etc.
Late
papers will not be accepted after the
date of the final.
|
|
| 3. |
Six quizzes
will be given at the beginning of class on the
dates listed below. These
will consist of 3 questions from the study guide
questions.
You will have 15 minutes to complete
them. The
best 5 of 6 quizz grades will count toward your
total quiz grade. |
| 4. |
One midterm and one final
will be given. They will consist of
exercises and short essays. Makeup exams
will only be given in very extenuating
circumstances and only for legitimate
reasons. (Holiday scheduling is not a
legitimate reason.) |
IV. Grade Distribution
| Quizzes: 20%
total |
Papers: 2@20% = 40% total |
| Midterm: 20% |
Final: 20% |
V. Reminders on University Policies
| 1. |
Incompletes.
It is university and TCS departmental policy that
incompletes can be given only in very extenuating
circumstances (medical emergencies, etc.).
In particular, an incomplete cannot be given
because of a heavy course load, job commitments,
or because you've simply fallen behind in the
course. For this reason, you should attend
every lecture and make sure you're aware of
assignment deadlines and exam dates. If for
whatever reason you find yourself falling behind
during the semester, do not hesitate to see the
instructor as soon as possible. |
2.
|
University Honor
System. All students
should be aware of the university policy on
cheating and plagiarism. Cheating on an
exam, or plagiarizing on an essay assignment, are
sufficient reasons for receiving an F in the
course
|
3.
|
Moses
Statement.
If you are student with a
disability who is requesting accommodations,
please contact New York University’s Moses
Center for Students with Disabilities
at 212-998-4980 or mosescsd@nyu.edu.
You must be registered with CSD to receive
accommoda-tions. Information about
the Moses Center can be found at
www.nyu.edu/csd. The Moses Center is
located at 726 Broadway, 2nd floor |
VI. Typical Class Schedule (Fall
Semester)
The following schedule may be subject to revision over the
course of the semester. Unless otherwise specified,
reading assignments must be completed by the date on which
they appear.
| 1 |
Mon 1/22
Introduction.
|
Weds
1/24.
Fixed Points.
Chang (2007) Chap 1.
|
| 2 |
1/29. Thermometers and Working
Fluids.
Chang (2007) Chap 2.
|
1/31
Thermometers and
Working Fluids, cont.
Q1
|
| 3 |
2/5 Problems with
Working Fluids.
Chang (2007) Chap 3.
|
2/7
Theoretical
Temperature.
Chang (2007) Chap 4.
|
| 4 |
2/12 Theoretical
Temperature, cont.
|
2/14
Measurement,
Justification, and Scientific Progress.
Chang (2007) Chaps 5 & 6.
Q2
|
| 5 |
2/19
No Class (Presidents' Day)
|
2/21
The Caloric Theory
of Heat.
Morris (1972).
Paper1
|
| 6 |
2/26
No Class (Prof out of town)
|
2/28
No Class (Prof out of town)
|
| 7 |
3/5 The Wave Theory of
Heat.
Brush (1970).
|
3/7
MIDTERM
|
| 8 |
3/12
Spring Break
|
3/14
Spring Break
|
| 9 |
3/19 A
Cultural History of Thermodynamics.
Smith (1998) Chaps 1-2.
|
3/21
Carnot and Joule.
Smith (1998) Chaps 3-4. Q3
|
| 10 |
3/26
Thomson's Dilemma.
Smith (1998) Chaps 5-6.
|
3/28
No Class (Prof out of town)
|
| 11 |
4/2 Consolidation:
Rankine and Clausius.
Smith (1998) Chaps 7-8.
|
4/4
Thomson and Tait.
Smith (1998) Chaps 9-10. Q4
|
| 12 |
4/9 Maxwell and Energy
Physics.
Smith (1998) Chaps 11-12.
|
4/11
Energy Physics and
the Marketplace.
Smith (1998) Chaps 13-14.
|
| 13 |
4/16
The Kinetic Theory
of Gases.
Sklar (1993) pp. 28-48.
|
4/18
Boltzman's H-Theorem
and Objections. Q5 |
| 14 |
4/23 Brownian
Motion and Maxwell's Demon.
Earman & Norton (1998)
pp. 435-464
|
4/25 Information
and Maxwell's Demon
Earman & Norton (1999)
pp. 1-20.
Paper2
|
15
|
4/30 Black
Hole Thermodynamics.
Bokulich and Curiel
(2009) |
5/2 Black
Hole Thermodynamics, cont.
Q6
|
16
|
5/7
Makeup and
Review
|
|
| 17 |
FINAL (Date to be
announced by Registrar) |
|