Thermal Physics Course | IIT Kharagpur | Prof. Debamalya Banerjee | Undergraduate
Course Details
| Exam Registration | 144 |
|---|---|
| Course Status | Ongoing |
| Course Type | Core |
| Language | English |
| Duration | 12 weeks |
| Categories | Physics |
| Credit Points | 3 |
| Level | Undergraduate |
| Start Date | 19 Jan 2026 |
| End Date | 10 Apr 2026 |
| Enrollment Ends | 02 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Registration Ends | 20 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Date | 25 Apr 2026 IST |
| NCrF Level | 4.5 — 8.0 |
Unlock the Secrets of Heat and Energy: A 12-Week Journey into Thermal Physics
Are you an undergraduate physics student looking to build a strong foundation in one of the core pillars of physical science? Look no further. This comprehensive 12-week course in Thermal Physics, designed and taught by Prof. Debamalya Banerjee of IIT Kharagpur, offers a structured and insightful exploration of how energy transforms and governs the behavior of matter.
Prof. Banerjee, with over seven years of experience teaching core physics courses at one of India's premier institutes, brings clarity and depth to complex concepts. This course is meticulously crafted to guide students from basic principles to advanced applications, making it an ideal fit for 1st and 2nd-year BSc students following the CBCS platform.
Meet Your Instructor: Prof. Debamalya Banerjee
Prof. Debamalya Banerjee joined the Department of Physics at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, in December 2013. An accomplished educator, he has taught essential courses including first-year physics, classical mechanics, computational physics, and thermal physics to undergraduate students. His current research focuses on experimental studies of charge transport in organic and inorganic semiconductors and electron paramagnetic resonance, ensuring that his teaching is informed by active, cutting-edge scientific inquiry.
Course Overview & Structure
This course is divided into two logical halves. The first part delves into the microscopic world, connecting it to macroscopic observations. The second part establishes the fundamental laws that describe energy transfer and transformation.
Duration: 12 Weeks
Level: Undergraduate
Category: Physics
Intended Audience: BSc Students (across CBCS platform)
Detailed 12-Week Course Layout
| Week | Topics Covered |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Kinetic theory of gases: Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution, average/RMS/most probable speeds, pressure expression. |
| Week 2 | Mean free path, collision probability, fundamentals of transport phenomena. |
| Week 3 | Viscosity, diffusion, effusion, and thermal conductivity in gases. |
| Week 4 | Brownian motion, Einstein’s theory of diffusion, Perrin’s experiment, random walk concept. |
| Week 5 | Equipartition of energy, degrees of freedom, specific heat of gases & solids, Dulong-Petit, Einstein & Debye theories. |
| Week 6 | Real gases, Van-der Waals equation, virial coefficients, other equations of state. |
| Week 7 | Zeroth & First Law of Thermodynamics, quasi-static processes, work, internal energy, isothermal/adiabatic processes. |
| Week 8 | Cyclic processes, heat engines/refrigerators, Carnot's theorem/cycle, Second Law, Clausius’ theorem, Entropy. |
| Week 9 | Entropy principle, T-S diagram, Otto & Diesel cycles, unavailable energy, physical interpretation of entropy. |
| Week 10 | Maxwell’s relations, TdS equations, Gibbs-Helmholtz, Enthalpy, free energies, thermodynamic equilibrium, chemical reactions. |
| Week 11 | Phase equilibria, 1st & 2nd order phase transitions, latent heat, phase diagrams, triple point, Gibbs phase rule. |
| Week 12 | Radiation energy density/pressure, Blackbody radiation & Kirchhoff’s law, cavity radiation as a thermodynamic system, Third Law of Thermodynamics. |
Key Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Derive and apply the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution to solve problems in kinetic theory.
- Understand and calculate transport properties like viscosity and thermal conductivity.
- Explain the behavior of real gases using equations of state like Van-der Waals.
- State and apply the Four Laws of Thermodynamics to various systems and processes.
- Analyze heat engines and refrigerators using concepts of entropy and Carnot efficiency.
- Describe phase transitions and apply the Gibbs phase rule.
- Comprehend blackbody radiation as a thermodynamic system.
Recommended Textbooks
To supplement the course material, students are encouraged to refer to these authoritative texts:
- Thermal Physics by S.C Garg, R. M. Bansal and C. K. Ghosh (McGraw-Hill, 2012)
- Thermal Physics by A. B. Gupta, H. P. Roy (Books & Allied Ltd, 2010)
- Heat and Thermodynamics by M.W. Zemansky & R. Dittman (McGraw-Hill, 1981)
- Concepts of Thermal Physics by S. J. Blundell and K. M. Blundell (Oxford University Press, 2010)
Who Should Enroll?
This course is perfectly suited for:
- First and second-year BSc (Physics) students.
- Students preparing for competitive exams requiring strong thermal physics fundamentals.
- Any undergraduate science enthusiast seeking a clear, university-level understanding of thermodynamics and statistical mechanics from an IIT professor.
Embark on this 12-week intellectual journey with Prof. Debamalya Banerjee to master the principles that explain everything from the efficiency of engines to the ultimate fate of the universe. Build an unshakeable foundation in Thermal Physics today.
Enroll Now →