Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics - An Integrated Approach

This textbook brings together the fundamentals of the macroscopic and microscopic aspects of thermal physics by presenting thermodynamics and statistical mechanics as complementary theories based on small numbers of postulates. The book is designed to give the instructor flexibility in structuring courses for advanced undergraduates and/or beginning graduate students and is written on the principle that a good text should also be a good reference.
 
The presentation of thermodynamics follows the logic of Clausius and Kelvin while relating the concepts involved to familiar phenomena and the modern student's knowledge of the atomic nature of matter. Another unique aspect of the book is the treatment of the mathematics involved. The essential mathematical concepts are briefly reviewed before using them, and the similarity of the mathematics to that employed in other fields of physics is emphasized.
 
The text gives in depth treatments of low density gases, harmonic solids, magnetic and dielectric materials, phase transitions, and the concept of entropy. The microcanonical, canonical, and grand canonical ensembles of statistical mechanics are derived and used as the starting point for the analysis of fluctuations, blackbody radiation, the Maxwell distribution, Fermi-Dirac statistics, Bose-Einstein condensation, and the statistical basis of computer simulations.
 
Supplementary material including PowerPoint slides and detailed worked solutions can be downloaded online at http://booksupport.wiley.com

List of contents

Preface xiii
 
Part I Elements of Thermal Physics 1
 
1. Fundamentals 3
 
1.1 PVT Systems 3
 
1.2 Equilibrium States 6
 
1.3 Processes and Heat 10
 
1.4 Temperature 12
 
1.5 Size Dependence 13
 
1.6 Heat Capacity and Specific Heat 14
 
Problems 17
 
2. First Law of Thermodynamics 19
 
2.1 Work 19
 
2.2 Heat 21
 
2.3 The First Law 21
 
2.4 Applications 22
 
Problems 26
 
3. Properties and Partial Derivatives 27
 
3.1 Conventions 27
 
3.2 Equilibrium Properties 28
 
3.3 Relationships between Properties 34
 
3.4 Series Expansions 40
 
3.5 Summary 41
 
Problems 42
 
4. Processes in Gases 45
 
4.1 Ideal Gases 45
 
4.2 Temperature Change with Elevation 48
 
4.3 Cyclic Processes 50
 
4.4 Heat Engines 52
 
Problems 58
 
5. Phase Transitions 61
 
5.1 Solids, Liquids, and Gases 61
 
5.2 Latent Heats 65
 
5.3 Van der Waals Model 67
 
5.4 Classification of Phase Transitions 70
 
Problems 72
 
6. Reversible and Irreversible Processes 75
 
6.1 Idealization and Reversibility 75
 
6.2 Nonequilibrium Processes and Irreversibility 76
 
6.3 Electrical Systems 79
 
6.4 Heat Conduction 82
 
Problems 86
 
Part II Foundations of Thermodynamics 89
 
7. Second Law of Thermodynamics 91
 
7.1 Energy, Heat, and Reversibility 91
 
7.2 Cyclic Processes 93
 
7.3 Second Law of Thermodynamics 95
 
7.4 Carnot Cycles 98
 
7.5 Absolute Temperature 100
 
7.6 Applications 103
 
Problems 107
 
8. Temperature Scales and Absolute Zero 109
 
8.1 Temperature Scales 109
 
8.2 Uniform Scales and Absolute Zero 111
 
8.3 Other Temperature Scales 114
 
Problems 115
 
9. State Space and Differentials 117
 
9.1 Spaces 117
 
9.2 Differentials 121
 
9.3 Exact Versus Inexact Differentials 123
 
9.4 Integrating Differentials 127
 
9.5 Differentials in Thermodynamics 129
 
9.6 Discussion and Summary 134
 
Problems 136
 
10. Entropy 139
 
10.1 Definition of Entropy 139
 
10.2 Clausius' Theorem 142
 
10.3 Entropy Principle 145
 
10.4 Entropy and Irreversibility 148
 
10.5 Useful Energy 151
 
10.6 The Third Law 155
 
10.7 Unattainability of Absolute Zero 156
 
Problems 158
 
Appendix 10.A. Entropy Statement of the Second Law 158
 
11. Consequences of Existence of Entropy 165
 
11.1 Differentials of Entropy and Energy 165
 
11.2 Ideal Gases 167
 
11.3 Relationships Between CV, CP, BT , BS, and alphaV 170
 
11.4 Clapeyron's Equation 172
 
11.5 Maximum Entropy, Equilibrium, and Stability 174
 
11.6 Mixing 178
 
Problems 184
 
12. Thermodynamic Potentials 185
 
12.1 Internal Energy 185
 
12.2 Free Energies 186
 
12.3 Properties From Potentials 188
 
12.4 Systems in Contact with a Heat Reservoir 193
 
12.5 Minimum Free Energy 194
 
Problems 197
 
Appendix 12.A. Derivatives of Potentials 197
 
13. Phase Transitions and Open Systems 201
 
13.1 Two-Phase Equilibrium 201
 
13.2 Chemical Potential 206
 
13.3 Multi-Component Systems 211
 
13.4 Gibbs Phase Rule 214
 
13.5 Chemical Reactions 215
 
Problems 217
 
14. Dielectric and Magnetic Systems 219
 

About the author

Robert J. Hardy and Christian Binek
Department of Physics, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA

Summary

This textbook brings together the fundamentals of the macroscopic and microscopic aspects of thermal physics by presenting thermodynamics and statistical mechanics as complementary theories based on small numbers of postulates. The book is designed to give the instructor flexibility in structuring courses for advanced undergraduates and/or beginning graduate students and is written on the principle that a good text should also be a good reference.

The presentation of thermodynamics follows the logic of Clausius and Kelvin while relating the concepts involved to familiar phenomena and the modern student's knowledge of the atomic nature of matter. Another unique aspect of the book is the treatment of the mathematics involved. The essential mathematical concepts are briefly reviewed before using them, and the similarity of the mathematics to that employed in other fields of physics is emphasized.

The text gives in depth treatments of low density gases, harmonic solids, magnetic and dielectric materials, phase transitions, and the concept of entropy. The microcanonical, canonical, and grand canonical ensembles of statistical mechanics are derived and used as the starting point for the analysis of fluctuations, blackbody radiation, the Maxwell distribution, Fermi-Dirac statistics, Bose-Einstein condensation, and the statistical basis of computer simulations.

Supplementary material including PowerPoint slides and detailed worked solutions can be downloaded online at http://booksupport.wiley.com

Product details

• Authors: Christian Binek, Christian (University of Nebraska-Lincoln Binek, Hardy, Rj Hardy, Robert Hardy, Robert J Hardy, Robert J. Hardy, Robert J. (University of Nebraska-Lincoln Hardy, Robert J. Binek Hardy
• Publisher: Wiley, John and Sons Ltd
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 13.06.2014
• EAN: 9781118501016
• ISBN: 978-1-118-50101-6
• No. of pages: 532
• Subject: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Physics, astronomy > Thermodynamics