Loading…
Milestone map
4 milestones
Temperature and kinetic theory
4 weeks (about 12 hrs/week)
Read Volume 2 chapters 1–2. Then solve the odd-numbered problems of chapters 1–2. Self-check: University Physics Volume 2, Answer Keys, chapters 1–2.
Proof required
Link the public repo with the odd-numbered problems of chapters 1–2 written up (a typeset PDF, LaTeX source or notebook), and show the self-check: which answers matched and how you fixed the ones that did not.
What gets checked
Common mistakes
Powstik Guide
A public write-up of the odd-numbered problems of chapters 1–2, with the self-check shown.
Steps
Template
README Physics 4: Thermal Physics, unit 1: Temperature and kinetic theory Problems: Self-check result (matched / reworked): What I got wrong first and why:
What gets sent back
Resources
Foundationstart here
Depthgo deeper
What a verifier looks for
You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.
The first and second laws, and entropy
4 weeks (about 12 hrs/week)
Read Volume 2 chapters 3–4. Then solve the odd-numbered problems of chapters 3–4. Self-check: University Physics Volume 2, Answer Keys, chapters 3–4.
Proof required
Link the public repo with the odd-numbered problems of chapters 3–4 written up (a typeset PDF, LaTeX source or notebook), and show the self-check: which answers matched and how you fixed the ones that did not.
What gets checked
Common mistakes
Powstik Guide
A public write-up of the odd-numbered problems of chapters 3–4, with the self-check shown.
Steps
Template
README Physics 4: Thermal Physics, unit 2: The first and second laws, and entropy Problems: Self-check result (matched / reworked): What I got wrong first and why:
What gets sent back
Resources
Foundationstart here
Depthgo deeper
What a verifier looks for
You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.
Probability and the Boltzmann factor
4 weeks (about 12 hrs/week)
Work through the 8.044 notes on probability, the microcanonical ensemble and the Boltzmann factor. Then solve the 8.044 problem sets on probability and ensembles. Self-check: MIT 8.044 problem sets with solutions.
Proof required
Link the public repo with the 8.044 problem sets on probability and ensembles written up (a typeset PDF, LaTeX source or notebook), and show the self-check: which answers matched and how you fixed the ones that did not.
What gets checked
Common mistakes
Powstik Guide
A public write-up of the 8.044 problem sets on probability and ensembles, with the self-check shown.
Steps
Template
README Physics 4: Thermal Physics, unit 3: Probability and the Boltzmann factor Problems: Self-check result (matched / reworked): What I got wrong first and why:
What gets sent back
Resources
Foundationstart here
Depthgo deeper
What a verifier looks for
You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.
Watch the Maxwell–Boltzmann distribution appear
4 weeks (about 12 hrs/week)
Make a notebook that simulates hard disks colliding in a box and shows their speeds settling into the Maxwell–Boltzmann distribution. Start all disks with the same speed in random directions, run elastic collisions, and compare the speed histogram with the two-dimensional distribution.
Proof required
Link the public repo with the notebook, the result with its uncertainty, and a README that says what you did and what limits the result.
What gets checked
Common mistakes
Powstik Guide
A notebook that simulates hard disks colliding in a box and shows their speeds settling into the Maxwell–Boltzmann distribution, in a public repo.
Steps
Template
README Physics 4: Thermal Physics — Watch the Maxwell–Boltzmann distribution appear What I expected: Method: Result (value ± uncertainty): Accepted value and comparison: What limits the result:
What gets sent back
Resources
Foundationstart here
What a verifier looks for
You'll sign in first, then come straight back here.
Part of