Statistical Mechanics preparedness ?

[lsaldana]

Statistical Mechanics preparedness...?

Hello, I am a third year physics major having trouble deciding wether to take Statistical Mechanics this Spring semester. The problem is that there are 2 pre-requisites, Quantum Mechanics 1 and Thermodynamics, and I am only taking Thermodynamics this semester and I'm doing good. I could wait to take Statistical Mechanics one more year but I'm worried on how this will affect my chances at doing good at the physics GRE (which I plan to take next fall sometime). My advisor said he could sign me up and override the Quantum 1 pre-req since I will have thermo done. The book the professor will probably use is Thermal Physics by George Kittel (2nd edition). I've been told that other students do this often but I'm not sure since the only introduction to Quantum I have is from my modern physics class (sophomore level) and it's not very rigorous. Any advice? Thanks.

Course description: The statistical basis of thermodynamics is developed. Topics include entropy and the second law, partition functions and free energy, systems of variable particle number, and quantum statistics.

 

[Feldoh]

Thermal Physics by Kittel and Kroemer is a typical undergraduate book.

The main ideas from quantum are basically a 1D infinite well, distinguishable particles, indistinguishable particles (fermions/bosons), and at least some concept of spin.

Really most of these ideas are developed solely within the book. There will be minor things that you probably won't pick up but it shouldn't hinder you from successfully learning all of the main points of the book (in my experience even people that have had quantum don't pick up on some of the more subtle points).

Also if it makes you feel better typically people at my school usually take quantum and stat. mech. concurrently and usually learn the quantum based stuff before they do in quantum class.

 

[newflyer]

Georgia Tech?

 

[lsaldana]

Yeah I'm at Tech and I signed up after all. Google has part of the Kittel book uploaded so that helped me decide.

 

[Monocles]

I'm at Tech and I took statistical mechanics at the same time as quantum 1 and was just fine. It's kind of a silly pre-req.