386 Pages
    by CRC Press

    386 Pages
    by CRC Press

    This fully updated and expanded new edition continues to provide the most readable, concise, and easy-to-follow introduction to thermal physics. While maintaining the style of the original work, the book now covers statistical mechanics and incorporates worked examples systematically throughout the text. It also includes more problems and essential updates, such as discussions on superconductivity, magnetism, Bose-Einstein condensation, and climate change. Anyone needing to acquire an intuitive understanding of thermodynamics from first principles will find this third edition indispensable.

    Andrew Rex is professor of physics at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington. He is author of several textbooks and the popular science book, Commonly Asked Questions in Physics.

    TEMPERATURE
    Basic Concepts
    Equilibrium State
    Equations Of State
    Scales Of Temperature

    REVERSIBLE PROCESSES AND WORK
    Reversible Processes
    Work
    Other Kinds Of Work
    Example Of The Calculation Of Work In A Reversible Process

    THE FIRST LAW OF THERMODYNAMICS
    The Work Of Thompson And Joule
    The First Law Of Thermodynamics
    Heat Capacity
    Kinetic Theory Of Gases
    Ideal Gases And The First Law
    The Joule-Kelvin Effect
    Steady Flow Process—The Turbine

    THE SECOND LAW OF THERMODYNAMICS
    Carnot Cycles
    Statements Of The Second Law Of Thermodynamics
    Carnot’s Theorem
    The Thermodynamic Temperature Scale
    Engines And Refrigerators
    Summary

    ENTROPY
    The Clausius Inequality
    Entropy
    The Principle Of Increasing Entropy
    Entropy–Temperature Diagrams
    The Thermodynamic Identity
    Other Examples Of Entropy Calculations

    STATISTICAL MECHANICS
    Introduction to probability and statistics
    microscopic view of entropy
    maxwell-boltzmann statistics
    ideal gases

    THE THERMODYNAMIC POTENTIALS AND THE MAXWELL RELATIONS
    Thermodynamic Potentials
    Internal Energy
    Enthalpy H
    Helmholtz Function F
    Gibbs Function G
    Availability Function A
    The Thermodynamic Square
    Example Using A Maxwell Relation

    GENERAL THERMODYNAMIC RELATIONS
    Difference In Heat Capacities, Cp – Cv
    Evaluation Of And
    Energy Equation
    Ratio Of Heat Capacities, Cp/Cv
    Revisiting The Entropy Of An Ideal Gas
    Joule And Joule-Kelvin Coefficients

    MAGNETIC SYSTEMS
    Thermodynamics Of Magnetic Materials
    Magnetic Cooling

    PHASE CHANGES
    Pvt Surfaces
    Clausius–Clapeyron Equation For First-Order Phase Changes
    Variation Of Gibbs Function G In First-Order Transitions
    Second-Order Phase Changes
    Examples Of Phase Changes Of Different Orders
    Superconductivity And Superfluidity

    OPEN SYSTEMS AND CHEMICAL POTENTIAL
    Chemical Potential
    Three Applications Of The Chemical Potential

    THE THIRD LAW OF THERMODYNAMICS
    Statements Of The Third Law
    Consequences Of The Third Law
    The Unattainability Of Absolute Zero

    QUANTUM STATISTICS
    Classical And Quantum Statistics
    Photons And Thermal Radiation
    Application Of Fermi-Dirac Statistics To Electrons In Metals
    Bose-Einstein Condensation

    Biography

    *Click here for a Q&A session with the author:
    https://www.crcpress.com/go/9781138703780_authorQA

    Andrew Rex is professor of physics at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington. He received the his B.A. in physics from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1977 and the his Ph.D. in physics from the University of Virginia in 1982. At Virginia he worked under the direction of Bascom S. Deaver, Jr. on the development of new superconducting materials. After completing requirements for the his Ph.D. he joined the faculty at Puget Sound.

    Dr. Rex’s primary research interest is in the foundations of the second law of thermodynamics. He has published research articles and, jointly with Harvey Leff, two comprehensive monographs on the subject of Maxwell’s demon (1990, 2003). Dr. Rex has co-authored several widely used textbooks: Modern Physics for Scientists and Engineers (1993, 2000, 2006, 2013), Integrated Physics and Calculus (2000), and Essential College Physics (2010), and the popular science book Commonly Asked Questions in Physics, also published by Taylor & Francis / CRC Press.

    Dr. Rex has served in administrative roles, including chair of his department and Director of the University of Puget Sound Honors Program. He is devoted to physics education and has been an active participant in the American Association of Physics Teachers, the Society of Physics Students, Sigma Pi Sigma, and Sigma Xi. In 2004 Dr. Rex was recognized for his teaching with the President’s Award for Teaching Excellence.

    "statistical physics… is a welcome addition to what has become one of the classic thermodynamics textbooks"
    —Dr. Kevin Donovan, Queen Mary, University of London

    "Finn's text has always been a favourite because of its uncluttered style and the way it anticipates where students will run into problems. This new edition fills out the statistical mechanics coverage of the book, making it again a competitive choice for the way thermodynamics is taught today."
    —Dr. Carl Michal, University of British Columbia

    "an excellent update and refresh of Finn's classic text. The original content is enhanced by a clearer, more digestible presentation. Additional insights are given to some particularly tricky concepts…. The new chapters on introductory and quantum statistical mechanics expand the book's coverage to encompass all the key topics in undergraduate thermal physics."
    —Dr Tim Veal, University of Liverpool

    "an excellent general undergraduate textbook…. The inclusion of chapters on classical and quantum statistical mechanics, which are typically not covered in thermodynamics
    texts, is particularly welcome. Though the book is mainly aimed at students in physics the treatment of open steady-state flow systems (allowing for the treatment of turbines, compressors and
    throttles) makes the book relevant to the teaching of thermodynamics in an engineering context as well."  
    —Prof. George Jackson, Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London

    "a welcome revision. The addition of material on statistical thermodynamics and quantum statistics, coupled with the excellent treatment of thermodynamic potentials, makes for a well written course text. Suitable for advanced undergrad of graduate students in applied physics, engineering and anyone interested in a scientific approach to thermal science that accompanies standard mechanical engineering thermo quite well."
    —Kevin Lyons, Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, NC State University