Duration
30h Th, 10h Pr
Number of credits
| Master of Science (MSc) in Engineering Physics | 4 crédits |
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
English language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
The course develops links between the molecular and the macroscopic properties of chemical systems by introducing and using the tools of statistical mechanics.
Chapter 1. Quantum mechanics of chemical systems and introduction to spectroscopy
Chapter 2. The basic principles of statistical mechanics. Theory of Gibbs ensembles
Chapter 3. Systems of independent particles (ideal gases): Maxwell-Boltzmann, Fermi-Dirac, and Bose-Einstein statistics
Chapter 4. Ideal systems: applications of Maxwell-Boltzmann statistics (including transition state theory)
Chapter 5. Beyond the dilute limit: ideal degenerate fermion and boson gases
Chapter 6. Systems of interacting particles: real gases
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
The course aims at making the students able to use the tools of spectroscopy and statistical mechanics to explain the behaviour of physico-chemical systems and to develop applications thereof.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
Basic quantum mechanics course
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
The course consists in lectures devoted to the theoretical developments while favouring the active participation of the students, followed by exercise classes with open-ended problems possibly requiring the use of a data handling software.
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
4-hour seminars (Monday 1:45-5:45 pm) during the first semester, consisting in:
- two lectures (2x 1 1/2 h)
- one exercise class (1h)
Organisational adjustments related to the current health context
Online teaching starting October 26th, 2020
The examination will take place in presence (3h, hybrid oral/written examination, see section 'Assessment methods and criteria'). If the sanitary situation requires remote examinations, the procedure described below will be followed.
Assessment methods in case of online assessment
Open-book written distance-examination. The "TEST" platform of e-campus will be used to communicate the questions. The examination will last 4h. The students will have to send a scanned version or good quality photos of their solutions to the lecturer (Bernard.Leyh@uliege.be) within a period not exceeding 30 minutes after the end of the examination. The number of questions will be adapted to ensure that time is not a limiting factor.
Open-book oral examination by video-conferencing (maximum 30 minutes per student, with a short period of reflection not exceeding 20% of the overall duration of the examination). The students must be able to explain the differents concepts and reasonings involved in the course. Additional questions will be asked to assess the level of understanding of the students. The students will receive a Blackboard Collaborate link with their personal schedule. The camera of the student will have to be switched on during the examination. A Lifesize link will also be available in case of a technical problem.
Each student will be assigned a personal numerical mini-project during the semester. The report for this project will have to be handed over electronically (Bernard.Leyh@uliege.be) on the examination day (January 2021) at the latest.
The numerical mini-project is mandatory and considered as an integral part of the course. The student who will not deliver the report for the required deadline will not be allowed to present the oral-written exam.
Recommended or required readings
Powerpoint presentations will be made available.
The following textbooks provide the students with complementary information and are recommended as reference reading.
N. M. Laurendeau, Statistical Thermodynamics. Fundamentals and Applications, Cambridge University Press (2005)
J. W. Daily, Statistical Thermodynamics. An Engineering Approach, Cambridge University Press (2019)
Assessment methods and criteria
Below you will find information on the evaluation methods planned for in-person and remote exams as well as those planned for hybrid sessions. Depending on how the health crisis evolves, the chosen method will be communicated to you no later than one month before the start of the exam session.
Any session :
- In-person
written exam ( open-ended questions ) AND oral exam
- Remote
written exam ( open-ended questions ) AND oral exam
- If evaluation in "hybrid"
preferred in-person
Additional information:
Each student will be assigned a personal numerical mini-project during the semester. The report for this project will have to be handed over electronically (Bernard.Leyh@uliege.be) on the examination day (January 2021) at the latest.
The examination in January 2021 (half a day) will be partly written and partly oral.
The final grade will be an average of the assessment of the project (30%) and of the January examination (70%).
For the second examination period (August-September), a new numerical project will be assigned and will have to be handed over on the examination day at the latest. A mixed written-oral examination will be organized like in January. The weighting of the different assessments will be the same as in January.
The numerical mini-project is mandatory and considered as an integral part of the course. The student who will not deliver the report for the required deadline will not be allowed to present the oral-written exam.
Work placement(s)
Organizational remarks
The course in taught in English. It will be taught face-to-face as long as it is possible.
Contacts
Bernard Leyh Department of Chemistry, Building B6c (Office R77 and lab S48), B-4000 Liège 1 (Sart Tilman) Phone: +32/(0)4/366.34.25 - E-mail : Bernard.Leyh@uliege.be