2. Describe most of the macroscopic world
Classical Physics
The Foundation of pure & applied (macroscopic) physics & engineering!
Newton’s Laws + Boltzmann’s Statistical Mechanics (& Thermodynamics):
Describe most of the macroscopic world
Classical Mechanics: The Physics of the 17th & 18th centuries. Still useful!
High speeds (v ~ c): Special Relativity: 20th century physics!
Small size (atomic & smaller): Quantum Mechanics: 20th century physics! Physics 5301!

3. Four Fundamental Forces Of Nature!
Mechanics
HOW objects move (behave) under given forces.
(Usually) Does not deal with the sources of forces.
Answers the question:
Given the forces, how do objects move?
Forces are classified into 4 types:
Four Fundamental Forces Of Nature!
Mechanics applies to all four!

4. 4 Fundamental Forces of Nature Sources of the forces, in order of decreasing strength
Strong Nuclear Force:
Binds nuclei together. Still being researched.
Electromagnetic Force:
E&M phenomena. Chemical forces. Most everyday forces. Maxwell, Coulomb, Ampere, Faraday, ...
Weak Nuclear Force:
Nuclear decay. Fermi, Bethe, others. Still being researched.
Gravitational Force:
Newton (classical mechanics)
Einstein (general relativity)

5. 4 Fundamental Forces of Nature Sources of the forces, in order of decreasing strength

6. 4 Fundamental Forces The “Electro-Weak” Force:
Since ~ the late 1960’s, in some sense the 4 fundamental forces have been reduced to 3!
The Electromagnetic Force & the Weak Nuclear Force were combined into one theory.
S. Weinberg & A. Salaam:
1972 Nobel Prize in Physics!

7. The Standard Model of Particle Physics
The “Periodic Table for Elementary Particles”!
Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) and the Electroweak Theory
Protons & Neutrons consist of 3 Quarks each.

8. Standard Model

9. Standard Model

10. Standard Model

12. Statistical Mechanics: (This course!)
The Rest of Physics!
What we’ve mentioned is  all of physics except:
Statistical Mechanics: (This course!)
Mechanics of systems of huge numbers of particles
(>> ~ 1023).
Uses Probability & statistics to compute macroscopic properties from microscopic force laws.
Applies to BOTH the Classical Mechanics
& the Quantum Mechanics world!
The major LINK between microscopic & macroscopic physics!
Contains Thermodynamics as a sub-theory!