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Entropy and its physical meaning

Entropy and its physical meaning by J.S Dugdale is a short undergraduate level textbook which explains the laws of thermodynamics, looking at their classical as well as their statistical formulation. The book inevitably contains quite a bit of mathematics, but none of it should be too taxing to an undergraduate science student. Also, the first half of book has plenty of discussion of the concepts involved, which makes the maths less of a problem (the later parts seemed more mathematical to me). The book has exercises at the end of each chapter, with solutions at the end, and would be a good choice for independent study of thermodynamics.

The book is in three parts. The first considers thermodynamics from a macroscopic viewpoint, looking at the concept of entropy and the origin of the first and second laws of thermodynamics. The second part looks at entropy from the statistical viewpoint and shows how this can be applied to various systems incluing solids and gases. Quantum effects are examined, leading to Bose-Einstein and Fermi-Dirac gases. The third part of the book looks at low temperature systems, including the different methods of achieving such temperatures and the behaviour of Helium-4 and Helium-3. The third law of thermodynamics and the unattainability of absolute zero are also discussed.

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Paperback 212 pages
ISBN: 0748405690
Salesrank: 755867
Weight:0.8 lbs

Published: 1996 CRC

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Amazon.co.uk info

Paperback 212 pages
ISBN: 0748405690
Salesrank: 789731
Weight:0.8 lbs

Published: 1996 Taylor & Francis Ltd

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Paperback 212 pages
ISBN: 0748405690
Salesrank:
Weight:0.8 lbs

Published: 1996 CRC

Marketplace:New from CDN$ 76.92:Used from CDN$ 78.84

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Product Description
This text gives students a clear and easily understood introduction to entropy - a central concept in thermodynamics, but one which is often regarded as the most difficult to grasp. Professor Dugdale first presents a classical and historical view of entropy, looking in detail at the scientists who developed the concept, and at how they arrived at their ideas. This is followed by a statistical treatment which provides a more physical portrait of entropy, relating it to disorder and showing how physical and chemical systems tend to states of order at low temperatures. Dugdale includes here a brief account of some of the more intriguing manifestations of order in properties such as superconductivity and superfluidity.; "Entropy and Its Physical Meaning" also includes a number of exercises which can be used for both self- learning and class work. It is intended to provide a complete understanding of the concept of entropy, making it valuable reading for undergraduates in physics, physical sciences and engineering, and for students studying thermodynamics within other science courses such as meteorology, biology and medicine.

Product Description

This text gives students a clear and easily understood introduction to entropy - a central concept in thermodynamics, but one which is often regarded as the most difficult to grasp. Professor Dugdale first presents a classical and historical view of entropy, looking in detail at the scientists who developed the concept, and at how they arrived at their ideas. This is followed by a statistical treatment which provides a more physical portrait of entropy, relating it to disorder and showing how physical and chemical systems tend to states of order at low temperatures. Dugdale includes here a brief account of some of the more intriguing manifestations of order in properties such as superconductivity and superfluidity.; "Entropy and Its Physical Meaning" also includes a number of exercises which can be used for both self- learning and class work. It is intended to provide a complete understanding of the concept of entropy, making it valuable reading for undergraduates in physics, physical sciences and engineering, and for students studying thermodynamics within other science courses such as meteorology, biology and medicine.

Excellent, brief survey of thermal physics--macro & micro. *****
Teachers and college students: here is a clear, friendly intro. to thermodynamics and statistical mechaniocs. (Don't be deceived by the title--it is not a specialist tract on entropy, that is only a convenient hook for author to hang a title.) Prof. Dugdale has a fine instinct for picking out the important highlights at the college-level. A quick and easy read (compared to standard textbooks). Should be ideal as refresher for the teacher and as textbook supplement for the student. (Probably it is too brief for a textbook for a one-quarter course, unless teacher supplements with extra material and adds a few more problems at chapter ends.) I was grateful that there were only a few problems at chapter ends -- and not too hard, either; this made it less guilt-inducing for me just to read the book w/o doing the problems, since time did not permit the latter. My understanding did not suffer noticably from this "casual" approach. There are original touches throughout, including a most fresh discussion of the second law enlivened with extracts from Carnot's own discussion of his ideal engine. Historical asides such as these are a rare item in a Physics book and reading this I began to see what a treat I've been missing all these years! The book has 3 sections: Part I on macro thermo, Part 2 on stat. mech, and a short Part 3 on low temperatures. A well-balanced presentation, and at an affordable price.

Excellent, brief survey of thermal physics--macro & micro. *****

Teachers and college students: here is a clear, friendly intro. to thermodynamics and statistical mechaniocs. (Don't be deceived by the title--it is not a specialist tract on entropy, that is only a convenient hook for author to hang a title.) Prof. Dugdale has a fine instinct for picking out the important highlights at the college-level. A quick and easy read (compared to standard textbooks).

Should be ideal as refresher for the teacher and as textbook supplement for the student. (Probably it is too brief for a textbook for a one-quarter course, unless teacher supplements with extra material and adds a few more problems at chapter ends.)

I was grateful that there were only a few problems at chapter ends -- and not too hard, either; this made it less guilt-inducing for me just to read the book w/o doing the problems, since time did not permit the latter. My understanding did not suffer noticably from this "casual" approach.

There are original touches throughout, including a most fresh discussion of the second law enlivened with extracts from Carnot's own discussion of his ideal engine. Historical asides such as these are a rare item in a Physics book and reading this I began to see what a treat I've been missing all these years!

The book has 3 sections: Part I on macro thermo, Part 2 on stat. mech, and a short Part 3 on low temperatures. A well-balanced presentation, and at an affordable price.

J.S. Dugdale

Entropy and its physical meaning