A reissue of a classic book, newly edited, corrected and typeset, with index added. This textbook for undergraduates covers the standard topics in statistical physics but with examples from the medical and biological sciences. Each of the three volumes, the others covering mechanics and electricity and magnetism, can be used independently, and together cover all major topics in physics.

Zusammenfassung
Intended for undergraduate courses in biophysics, biological physics, physiology, medical physics, and biomedical engineering, this is an introduction to statistical physics with examples and problems from the medical and biological sciences.

Inhalt
1 Elements of the Theory of Probability: The Binomial Distribution: Applications.- 1.1 Definition of Probability. The Two Rules. Illustrative Examples.- 1.2 Bernoulli Trials. The Binomial Distribution.- 1.3 Mean Values and Variance.- 1.4 Illustrative Applications.- 1.5 References and Supplementary Reading.- 1.6 Problems.- 2 Diffusion and Transport Processes.- 2.1 Molecular Movement and the Physical Properties of Gases: A Short Survey.- 2.2 Random Walk in One and Three Dimensions.- 2.3 The Diffusion Equation.- 2.4 Particle Conservation, Particle Current, and Fick's Law.- 2.5 Flow and Diffusion of Particles Under the Action of External Forces and Collisions with Solvent Molecules.- 2.6 Flow of Solute and Solvent Across a Membrane in the Presence of Both Pressure and Concentration Gradients.- 2.Al Derivation of the Relation (2-6): Total Kinetic Energy = 3/2p V.- 2.A2 Proof of the Equipartition Law for a Test Particle of Mass M in a Gas at Temperature T.- 2.A3 Gaussian Integrals.- 2.7 References and Supplementary Reading.- 2.8 Problems.- 3 Poisson Statistics.- 3.1 Introduction.- 3.2 Derivation of the Poisson Probability Distribution.- 3.3 Properties of the Poisson Distribution.- 3.4 Poisson Statistics and the Detection of Light by the Eye.- 3.5 The Luria-Delbrück Experiment: Mutation as the Source of Bacterial Immunity to Virus Attack.- 3.6 References and Supplementary Reading.- 3.7 Problems.- 4 Thermal Equilibrium. The Boltzmann Factor. Entropy and Free Energy. The Second Law of Thermodynamics. Application to Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.- 4.1 The Statistical Nature of Thermal Equilibrium.- 4.2 The Probability Distribution of Energy. The Boltzmann Factor.- 4.3 Macroscopic Statement of Equilibrium Conditions. Entropy and the Second Law of Thermodynamics, MinimumPrinciple for Free Energy. Chemical Potentials.- 4.4 Applications of the Equilibrium Conditions to Problems in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.- 4.Al Multinomial Coefficients: Weight of a Macrostate for the Einstein Crystal.- 4.A2 Occupancy of Microcells by Atoms of an Ideal Gas.- 4.A3 The Equipartition Theorem of Classical Statistical Mechanics.- 4.5 References and Supplementary Reading.- 4.6 Problems.- Table of Important Constants.- Table of Units and Conversion Factors.- 4.6.A. Units of Length.- 4.6.B. Units of Area and Volume.- 4.6.C. Units of Force.- 4.6.D. Units of Pressure.- 4.6.E. Units of Energy.