Statistical Physics, 2nd Edition [Paperback]

Franz Mandl (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0471915335 | ISBN-13: 978-0471915331 | Publication Date: May 12, 1988 | Edition: 2

The Manchester Physics Series General Editors: D. J. Sandiford; F. Mandl; A. C. Phillips Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manchester Properties of Matter B. H. Flowers and E. Mendoza Optics Second Edition F. G. Smith and J. H. Thomson Statistical Physics Second Edition E. Mandl Electromagnetism Second Edition I. S. Grant and W. R. Phillips Statistics R. J. Barlow Solid State Physics Second Edition J. R. Hook and H. E. Hall Quantum Mechanics F. Mandl Particle Physics Second Edition B. R. Martin and G. Shaw The Physics of Stars Second Edition A. C. Phillips Computing for Scientists R. J. Barlow and A. R. Barnett Statistical Physics, Second Edition develops a unified treatment of statistical mechanics and thermodynamics, which emphasises the statistical nature of the laws of thermodynamics and the atomic nature of matter. Prominence is given to the Gibbs distribution, leading to a simple treatment of quantum statistics and of chemical reactions. Undergraduate students of physics and related sciences will find this a stimulating account of the basic physics and its applications. Only an elementary knowledge of kinetic theory and atomic physics, as well as the rudiments of quantum theory, are presupposed for an understanding of this book. Statistical Physics, Second Edition features:

• A fully integrated treatment of thermodynamics and statistical mechanics.
• A flow diagram allowing topics to be studied in different orders or omitted altogether.
• Optional "starred" and highlighted sections containing more advanced and specialised material for the more ambitious reader.
• Sets of problems at the end of each chapter to help student understanding. Hints for solving the problems are given in an Appendix.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The Manchester Physics Series General Editors: D. J. Sandiford; F. Mandl; A. C. Phillips Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manchester Properties of Matter B. H. Flowers and E. Mendoza Optics Second Edition F. G. Smith and J. H. Thomson Statistical Physics Second Edition E. Mandl Electromagnetism Second Edition I. S. Grant and W. R. Phillips Statistics R. J. Barlow Solid State Physics Second Edition J. R. Hook and H. E. Hall Quantum Mechanics F. Mandl Particle Physics Second Edition B. R. Martin and G. Shaw The Physics of Stars Second Edition A. C. Phillips Computing for Scientists R. J. Barlow and A. R. Barnett Statistical Physics, Second Edition develops a unified treatment of statistical mechanics and thermodynamics, which emphasises the statistical nature of the laws of thermodynamics and the atomic nature of matter. Prominence is given to the Gibbs distribution, leading to a simple treatment of quantum statistics and of chemical reactions. Undergraduate students of physics and related sciences will find this a stimulating account of the basic physics and its applications. Only an elementary knowledge of kinetic theory and atomic physics, as well as the rudiments of quantum theory, are presupposed for an understanding of this book. Statistical Physics, Second Edition features:

• A fully integrated treatment of thermodynamics and statistical mechanics.
• A flow diagram allowing topics to be studied in different orders or omitted altogether.
• Optional "starred" and highlighted sections containing more advanced and specialised material for the more ambitious reader.
• Sets of problems at the end of each chapter to help student understanding. Hints for solving the problems are given in an Appendix.

Product Details

• Paperback: 402 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 2 edition (May 12, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471915335
• ISBN-13: 978-0471915331
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #363,076 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Review by a graduate student., July 30, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Statistical Physics, 2nd Edition (Paperback)

Thermodynamics gives a phenomenological description of properties of matter that are dependent on temperature. Whereas Statistical Physics attempts to give a microscopic view point of properties of matterThere is no concept of heat as such in the statistical approach . The two subjects though different in their approach complement each other. The crux of the difficulty is a begginner must try not imagine very much in a microscopic level when he learns thermodynamics. But when a student learns Statistical Physics he has to imagine in microscopic terms. There are usually two broad varieties of text books, Those which emphasize thermodynamics and leave statistical physics. But the worst case is books which start with a microscopic view.(e.g books by Pippard , Zemansky & Dittmanetc) These books fail to make a student appreciate the beauty and mathematical completeness of classical thermodynamics.(e.g popular books by Rief Kittel & Kromer,Baierlin). I have seen a ! few friends of mine who could manipulate details from partitiomn functions , but they don't understand even the first twolaws of thermodynamics. Here is where Mandl's book succeeds.It introduces both the subjects in such a meticulous way that you don't feel pertuturbed by the different views. The book is short and yet comprehensive.It covers few well known examples like paramagnetism , blackbody radiation in detail. The advanced portions are maked with asterisks or gray tint(this is typical of all books in the series. I would recommend this book instead of two sepeate courses on thermodynamics and Statistical Physics. Though the approach is not in chronological order it avoids much tautology of learning and unlearnig between the macroscpic and microscopic view.Yet another noteworthy aspect is a good treatment of open systems via the grand canonical ensemble in the last chapter. The problems in this book are superb. There are a few confidence building problems and there are hi! nts , answers and even complete solutions for tougher probl! emsThis book is ideally suited for both class room and self study..

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good first book on statistical physcs + thermodynamics, November 14, 2004

By 

Nordlund Kai (Helsinki, Finland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Statistical Physics, 2nd Edition (Paperback)

This book has for many years been the book on our University's
second-year course on thermodynamics and statistical physics. It gives a good introduction to both topics and especially
how the two relate to each other. It is mostly clearly written and
has good examples. It is not perfect by any means, e.g.
the blackbody radiation is inexplicably presented before the
Bose-Einstein distribution is derived, and the example
on the Clausius-Clapeyron equation uses an unnecessarily
crude approximation, but overall it still remains one of
the best conxise texts on the subject.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My Favorite Physics Book, March 13, 2002

By 

James T. Adams (Alexandria, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Statistical Physics, 2nd Edition (Paperback)

This book is really one of the most interesting books I've ever read, and is my favorite book in physics. The writing style is clear, the figures and graphs well-done, and the book contains valuable exercises and partial solutions. As an undergraduate text it requires a basic background in diff. eq., classical mechanics, e&m etc, but never gets too intimidating. In a graduate statmech class I found the background I received from Mandl carried me almost all the way through. What a great book!