2021 Faculty Courses School of Science Undergraduate major in Earth and Planetary Sciences
Thermodynamics (EPS course)
- Academic unit or major
- Undergraduate major in Earth and Planetary Sciences
- Instructor(s)
- Soichi Omori / Tetsuya Yokoyama
- Class Format
- Lecture/Exercise
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 7-8 Tue (I123) / 7-8 Fri (I123)
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- EPS.B202
- Number of credits
- 110
- Course offered
- 2021
- Offered quarter
- 1Q
- Syllabus updated
- Jul 10, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
The Earth is a complex multicomponent system, though each component of the Earth system is largely controlled by physical and chemical processes. For example, the formation of rocks or minerals can be described by the thermodynamics, which can be formulated as functions of temperature, pressure, and chemical composition. This course consists of basic and application classes. The first seven classes focus on fundamental laws and thermodynamic potentials. The second half of the course focuses on applications of aqueous chemistry, thermodynamics of rocks and minerals through lectures and solving problem sets.
Course description and aims
At the end of the basic classes, students will understand the first law, the second law, and various thermodynamic potentials. Students will be able to solve basic problems related to such fundamental issues.
At the end of the application classes, students will acquire the ability to use thermodynamics for solving geochemical problems.
Keywords
Free energy, Equation of state, Phase rule, Aqueous solution, Solid solution, Paragenesis of minerals
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
Before coming to class, students should read the course schedule and prepare for the topics with handouts and references.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Introduction |
Introduction to thermodynamics |
| Class 2 | Basic of thermodynamics |
Understanding basic of thermodynamics |
| Class 3 | Free energy (1) |
Understanding free energy |
| Class 4 | Free energy (2) |
Understanding P-T dependence of GIbbs energy |
| Class 5 | Phase equilibrium of multicomponent system (1) |
Understanding the phase rule using a phase diagram for the mantle |
| Class 6 | Phase equilibrium of multicomponent system (2) |
Understanding the derivation of reaction formula |
| Class 7 | Exercise-Basic |
Solve problems of thermodynamics concerning the first law and the second law. |
| Class 8 | Phase equilibrium including fluid phase: Equation of state of fluid |
Understanding phase equilibrium including fluid phase and equation of state of fluid |
| Class 9 | How to caluclate phase equilibrium and Exercise-Application (1) |
Understanding the calculation of equilibrium |
| Class 10 | Thermodynamics of solid solution and its application to geothermo-barometry |
Understanding thermodynamics of solid solution |
| Class 11 | Thermodynamics of aqueous solution (1) |
Understanding thermodynamics of aqueous solution |
| Class 12 | Thermodynamics of aqueous solution (2) and Exercise-Application (2) |
Introducing a few examples treating aqueous solution |
| Class 13 | Evaluation of thermodynamic constants |
Learn how to evaluate thermodynamic constants |
| Class 14 | Gibbs energy minimization method and Exercise-Application (3) |
Understanding the Gibbs energy minimization method and excercise on phase diagram calculations |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
Handouts will be provided during the class
Reference books, course materials, etc.
P.W. Atkins "Atkins' Physical chemistry 10th edition" Oxford University Press
Etsuo Uchida "Thermodynamics in Mineralogy and Petrology" Kyoritsu Shuppan (in japanese)
Sadao Matsuo "Geochemistry" Kodansha (in Japanese)
Evaluation methods and criteria
Students will be assessed on their understanding for the thermodynamics of water, rocks, and minerals.
Students' course scores are based on exercises.
Related courses
- EPS.B211 ： Inorganic Chemistry (EPS course)
- EPS.A201 ： Introduction to Material Sciences of Earth and Planet
- CHM.B334 ： Geochemistry
- EPS.A331 ： Earth Materials
Prerequisites
No prerequisite