Offered to students admitted to Year 1 in ALL
Major/Minor ALL
Course Type
Offer in 2023 - 2024 Y N
Course Code PHYS2261
Date2023/09/24 22:47
Enquiry for Course Details
PHYS2261 Introductory heat and thermodynamics (6 credits) Academic Year 2023
Offering Department Physics Quota ---
Course Co-ordinator Prof M H Xie, Physics < mhxie@hku.hk >
Teachers Involved (Prof M H Xie,Physics)
Course Objectives This calculus-based course covers the basics of thermodynamics and kinetic theory in one semester. It is a core course for physics major, a discipline elective for physics minor, as well as an elective course for those who wish to learn the basic thermodynamics concepts and to link them up with their studies in fields like engineering, chemistry and mathematics.  Problem solving and analytical skills will be extensively used.  They are supplemented by numerical skills occasionally.  Upon completion, interested students may take PHYS3550 to further their study in thermodynamics and statistical mechanics.
Course Contents & Topics Topics include: thermodynamic system, equilibrium state and its characterization; thermodynamic state function and equation of state and state transformation; first law of thermodynamics, adiabatic process, Carnot cycle; entropy and second law of thermodynamics; various thermodynamic potentials and their applications in phase equilibrium and mixtures; third law of thermodynamics and Nernst theorem, a brief discussion of kinetic theory.
Course Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

CLO 1 describe and explain the fundamental physical principles
CLO 2 apply these principles, together with logical and mathematical reasoning, to situations of the physical world
CLO 3 analyse and solve problems with the aids of mathematics
CLO 4 acquire and interpret experimental data to examine the physical laws
Pre-requisites
(and Co-requisites and
Impermissible combinations)		 Pass in PHYS1050 or PHYS1150 or PHYS1250 or ENGG1350
Course Status with Related Major/Minor /Professional Core 2023 Major in Physics ( Core/Compulsory )
2023 Major in Physics (Intensive) ( Core/Compulsory )
2023 Minor in Physics ( Disciplinary Elective )
2022 Major in Physics ( Core/Compulsory )
2022 Major in Physics (Intensive) ( Core/Compulsory )
2022 Minor in Physics ( Disciplinary Elective )
2021 Major in Physics ( Core/Compulsory )
2021 Major in Physics (Intensive) ( Core/Compulsory )
2021 Minor in Physics ( Disciplinary Elective )
2020 Major in Physics ( Core/Compulsory )
2020 Major in Physics (Intensive) ( Core/Compulsory )
2020 Minor in Physics ( Disciplinary Elective )
2019 Major in Physics ( Core/Compulsory )
2019 Major in Physics (Intensive) ( Core/Compulsory )
2019 Minor in Physics ( Disciplinary Elective )
Course to PLO Mapping 2023 Major in Physics < PLO 1,2,3,4 >
2023 Major in Physics (Intensive) < PLO 1,2,3,4 >
2022 Major in Physics < PLO 1,2,3,4 >
2022 Major in Physics (Intensive) < PLO 1,2,3,4 >
2021 Major in Physics < PLO 1,2,3,4 >
2021 Major in Physics (Intensive) < PLO 1,2,3,4 >
2020 Major in Physics < PLO 1,2,3,4 >
2020 Major in Physics (Intensive) < PLO 1,2,3,4 >
2019 Major in Physics < PLO 1,2,3,4 >
2019 Major in Physics (Intensive) < PLO 1,2,3,4 >
Offer in 2023 - 2024 Y        1st sem    Examination Dec     
Offer in 2024 - 2025 Y
Course Grade A+ to F
Grade Descriptors
A Demonstrate thorough mastery at an advanced level of extensive knowledge and skills required for attaining all the course learning outcomes. Show strong analytical and critical abilities and logical thinking, with evidence of original thought, and ability to apply knowledge to a wide range of complex, familiar and unfamiliar situations. Apply highly effective organizational and presentational skills. Apply highly effective lab skills and techniques. Critical use of data and results to draw appropriate and insightful conclusions.
B Demonstrate substantial command of a broad range of knowledge and skills required for attaining at least most of the course learning outcomes. Show evidence of analytical and critical abilities and logical thinking, and ability to apply knowledge to familiar and some unfamiliar situations. Apply effective organizational and presentational skills. Apply effective lab skills and techniques. Correct use of data of results to draw appropriate conclusions.
C Demonstrate general but incomplete command of knowledge and skills required for attaining most of the course learning outcomes. Show evidence of some analytical and critical abilities and logical thinking, and ability to apply knowledge to most familiar situations. Apply moderately effective organizational and presentational skills. Apply moderately effective lab skills and techniques. Mostly correct but some erroneous use of data and results to draw appropriate conclusions.
D Demonstrate partial but limited command of knowledge and skills required for attaining some of the course learning outcomes. Show evidence of some coherent and logical thinking, but with limited analytical and critical abilities. Show limited ability to apply knowledge to solve problems. Apply limited or barely effective organizational and presentational skills. Apply partially effective lab skills and techniques. Limited ability to use data and results to draw appropriate conclusions.
Fail Demonstrate little or no evidence of command of knowledge and skills required for attaining the course learning outcomes. Lack of analytical and critical abilities, logical and coherent thinking. Show very little or no ability to apply knowledge to solve problems. Organization and presentational skills are minimally effective or ineffective. Apply minimally effective or ineffective lab skills and techniques. Misuse of data and results and/or unable to draw appropriate conclusions.
Communication-intensive Course N
Course Type Lecture with laboratory component course
Course Teaching
& Learning Activities
Activities Details No. of Hours
Laboratory 6
Lectures 36
Tutorials 12
Reading / Self study 80
Assessment Methods
and Weighting
Methods Details Weighting in final
course grade (%)		 Assessment Methods
to CLO Mapping
Assignments Including computational assignments 10 CLO 1,2,3,4
Examination 2-hour written exam 50 CLO 1,2,3,4
Laboratory reports 15 CLO 3
Test 25 CLO 1,2,3,4
Required/recommended reading
and online materials		 Lecture notes provided by Course Coordinator
Stephen J. Blundell and Katherine M. Blundell, Concepts in Thermal Physics, Oxford University Press, 2010
Daniel V. Schroeder, An Introduction to Thermal Physics, Pearson 2014
Herbert B. Callen, Thermodynamics and an Introduction to Thermostatistics, John Willey & Sons, Inc. (1985)
Course Website http://moodle.hku.hk
Additional Course Information NIL
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