What's the difference between Stat. Physics and Stat. Mech?

[Zacarias Nason]

Pretty much as said; what is the practical distinction between Statistical Physics and Statistical Mechanics? The Wikipedia page for Statistical Physics has Statistical Mechanics as a subsection, but virtually all other subsections just talk about prominent figures, institutions, and developments. Is there any difference between the two or are they effectively synonymous?

 

[Simon Bridge]

Strictly, StatMech refers to the statistical approach to the field of physics known as "mechanics" (i.e. probability and stats for mechanical systems) while StatPhys is the statistical approach to all fields in physics. So you are looking for the distinction between "mechanics" and "all of physics".

 

[Zacarias Nason]

Thank you.