Fredrick Reif Legacy - Physics (Textbooks and research)

• Preface
• Contents
• Ch. 1- Undrestanding Macroscopic Systems
• Ch. 2- Work and Heat
• Ch. 3- Statisical Description of Macroscopic Syatems
• Ch. 4- General Properties of Macroscpic Systems
• Ch. 5- Thermal Interaction
• Ch. 6- Ideal Gases and Absolute Temperature
• Ch. 7- Heat Capacity and Heat Transfer
• Ch. 8- General Thermodynamic Interaction
• Ch. 9- Important applications
• Appendics
  (a) Review of logarithms (b) Calculus with logarithms (c) Summary of statistical thermodynamics (d) Modifications due to quantom mechanics (e) Physical constants (f) Greec Alphabet
• Ch. 4 - Ch. 7 – Hints
• Ch. 8 - Hints

The presentation emphasizes the essential unity of the subject matter and develops physical insight by stressing the microscopic content of the theory.

The author's writing style and penchant for description energize interest in condensed matter physics as well as provide a conceptual grounding with information that is crystal clear and memorable. Reif first introduces basic probability concepts and statistical methods used throughout all of physics. Statistical ideas are then applied to systems of particles in equilibrium to enhance an understanding of the basic notions of statistical mechanics, from which derive the purely macroscopic general statements of thermodynamics. Next, he turns to the more complicated equilibrium situations, such as phase transformations and quantum gases, before discussing nonequilibrium situations in which he treats transport theory and dilute gases at varying levels of sophistication. In the last chapter, he addresses some general questions involving irreversible processes and fluctuations. A large amount of material is presented to facilitate students later access to more advanced works, to allow those with higher levels of curiosity to read beyond the minimum given on a topic, and to enhance understanding by presenting several ways of looking at a particular question. Formatting within the text either signals material that instructors can assign at their own discretion or highlights important results for easy reference to them. Additionally, by solving many of the 230 problems contained in the text, students activate and embed their knowledge of the subject matter.

This makes the presentation more rigorous, interesting and visual, and allows one to operate with various simple systems, such as an ideal gas and a system of several spins in a magnetic field. The book contains a large number of examples and problems.

Provides detailed instruction of a problem-solving strategy for both quantitative and qualitative problems. Consists of two closely coordinated parts the text is designed to present basic subject matter as well as facilitate reference and review; the workbook ensures that students have understood what they have read, can interpret it and apply the information to diverse situations.