20201 Atoms, Molecules and the Properties of Matter

Credits: 6 intermediate credits in Physics or in Chemistry

Prerequisites: none 1

Required: Fundamentals of Physics I + Fundamentals of Physics II and Differential and Integral Calculus I (or Infinitesimal Calculus I)

Authors: Yoram Kirsh, Nava Ben-Zvi, Dvora Jacobi

The course presents the molecular theory of matter that developed as a result of the work of scientists since the 17th century. Its development constituted an important stage in the advancement of the Natural Sciences in general and Physics in particular. Throughout the course students conduct home experiments and view videocassettes accompanying the course.

Topics: Molecular weight; Gases, liquids and solids; Intermolecular forces; Link energies and their measurement; Vibrating atoms in solids; Probability and statistics in molecule aggregates; Thermodynamic equilibrium and Boltzman’s law; The Maxwell distribution; Experimental corroboration of molecular-kinetic theory; Specific heat, internal energy and the equipartition theorem; Properties of matter in everyday life – based on a translation of Properties of Matter, by B.H. Flowers and E. Mendoza.

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1Students who took 5-point high-school Physics and Mathematics and passed with high grades (within the last 5 years), are advised to contact a Physics advisor before enrolling.