Biochemistry & Biophysics 232 - Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics in Biology

(Offered as BCBP 232 and PHYS 232) Statistical mechanics describes how the movement of microscopic particles leads to their macroscopic properties. Thermodynamics is the study of how heat is transferred between systems and turned into other forms of energy. This course will cover the fundamentals of statistical mechanics and thermodynamics including states of a system, statistical distributions, the laws of thermodynamics, heat transfer, and how thermodynamic processes can be used in a cycle to make an engine. Examples will be drawn from biology, chemistry, and nanoscience, and may include polymers, protein folding, and ligand binding. Three class hours per week.

Requisite: Either PHYS 225 or all of the following: CHEM 161/CHEM165 and PHYS 117/PHYS 124 and MATH 121. Recommended: MATH 211. Spring semester: Professor Carter.

How to handle overenrollment: null

Students who enroll in this course will likely encounter and be expected to engage in the following intellectual skills, modes of learning, and assessment: quantitative work, oral presentations, in-class quizzes or exams, and working in groups.