Statistical mechanics

Statistical mechanics is the application of statistics, which includes mathematical tools for dealing with large populations, to the field of mechanics, which is concerned with the motion of particles or objects when subjected to a force. It provides a framework for relating the microscopic properties of individual atoms and molecules to the macroscopic or bulk properties of materials that can be observed in every day life, therefore explaining thermodynamics as a natural result of statistics and mechanics (classical and quantum). In particular, it can be used to calculate the thermodynamic properties of bulk materials from the spectroscopic data of individual molecules.

References

• {{Book reference | Author=Huang, Kerson | Title=Statistical Mechanics | Publisher=Wiley, John & Sons, Inc | Year=1990 | ID=ISBN 0471815187}}
• {{Book reference | Author=Kroemer, Herbert; Kittle, Charles | Title=Thermal Physics (2nd ed.) | Publisher=W. H. Freeman Company | Year=1980 | ID=ISBN 0716710889}}