Consider the following model in classical statistical mechanics. The system is large if it is consisting of Avogadro’s number of particles. 2.1. For instance, the familiar equation of state of an ideal gas, PV=νRT(see Section 6.2), is actually a statistical result. Introduction; 2. The Statistical Description of Physical Systems. It is useful in the fundamental study of the physical system with numerous degrees of freedom. Statistical mechanics can be considered as one of the pillars of modern physics. Sign up to join this community. In other words, it relates the average pressure, and the average volume, to the average temperature. We’re going to need to have a statistical description of the properties we’re trying to describe, and entropy itself is an information theory metric. 1. VI. micro world to macro world: We’ll also have two diversions: quantum mechanics, which construct the important states that we need to count, and basic probability theory. Quantum Statistical Mechanics: L19: Mean field theory of condensation, Corresponding states, Critical point behavior (from L17 & L18) Lecture Note 19 (PDF) L20: Dilute Polyatomic Gases, Vibrations of a Solid, Black-body Radiation: Lecture Note 20 (PDF) L21: Quantum Microstates, Quantum Macrostates: Lecture Note 21 (PDF) VII. The approach is usually based on probability theory, statistical methods, and microscopic physical laws. It only takes a minute to sign up. A Large number of bodies means a lot of degrees of freedom (DoFs). Statistical Physics ... Statistical mechanics is the mechanics of large bodies using statistical methods. Contents¶. Physics Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for active researchers, academics and students of physics. Classical mechanics is Newton’s great plan of kinematics. Microstates and Macrostates we can forget that the results are statistical at all, and treat them as exact laws of physics. Statistical physics !