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This textbook introduces the ideas of classical thermodynamics and statistical mechanics using a modern approach and a light style. Each topic ends with a boxed summary of ideas and results, and chapters contain many homework problems, covering a broad range of difficulties.
List of contents
Preface; Part I. Introduction: 1. Introduction; Part II. Small Systems: 2. Statistics for small systems; 3. Systems with many elements; Part III. Energy and the First Law: 4. Internal energy; 5. Interactions between systems; Part IV. States and the Second Law: 6. Internal energy and the number of accessible states; 7. Entropy and the second law; 8. Entropy and thermal interactions; Part V. Constraints: 9. Natural constraints; 10. Models; 11. Choice of variables; 12. Special processes; 13. Engines; 14. Diffusive interactions; Part VI. Classical Statistics: 15. Probabilities and microscopic behaviours; 16. Kinetic theory and transport processes in gases; 17. Magnetic properties of materials; 18. The partition function; Part VII. Quantum Statistics: 19. Introduction to quantum statistics; 20. Quantum gases; 21. Blackbody radiation; 22. The thermal properties of solids; 23. The electrical properties of materials; 24. Low temperatures and degenerate systems; Appendices; Further reading; Problem solutions; Index.
About the author
Keith Stowe is the Professor of Physics at California Polytechnic State University, and has worked there for 32 years. He has spent time at the University of Washington, Harvard University, the University of North Carolina and the University of Michigan. As well as the first edition of Introduction to Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics he has written books on ocean science.
