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Equilibrium thermodynamics

Thermodynamics was originally a macroscopic theory with the microscopic explanation coming later. In 'Equilibrium Thermodynamics' C.J. Adkins presents the subject from the macroscopic point of view. (Philosophically one might want to do this to separate out the two viewpoints, but that isn't really a motivation for this book) His idea is that this is the best way to introduce the subject to the student. I can't say that I agree with that, but it does mean that he can pack a large amount of material into a small book, so if your main interest is in the applications of thermodynamics then you may find this book worth studying.

After a few chapters introducing the first and second laws of thermodynamics, Adkins starts looking at the applications of the subject, such as the behaviour of gases, the thermodynamics of electric cells, and piezoelectricity. There are also chapters looking at irreversible changes and at phase changes. There is plenty of material on low temperature thermodynamics, including the third law.

A book like this is bound to be mathematical, but it doesn't get too abstract and should present few problems to a science undergraduate. There are also plenty of diagrams to assist in understanding.

Amazon.com info

Paperback 304 pages
ISBN: 0521274567
Salesrank: 957394
Weight:1.01 lbs

Published: 1984 Cambridge University Press

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Amazon.co.uk info

Paperback 304 pages
ISBN: 0521274567
Salesrank: 342060
Weight:1.01 lbs

Published: 1983 Cambridge University Press

Amazon price £18.95

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Amazon.ca info

Paperback 304 pages
ISBN: 0521274567
Salesrank: 332373
Weight:1.01 lbs

Published: 1984 Cambridge University Press

Amazon price CDN$ 33.36

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Product Description
Equilibrium Thermodynamics gives a comprehensive but concise course in the fundamentals of classical thermodynamics. Although the subject is essentially classical in nature, illustrative material is drawn widely from modern physics and free use is made of microscopic ideas to illuminate it. The overriding objective in writing the book was to achieve a clear exposition: to give an account of the subject that it both stimulating and easy to learn from. Classical thermodynamics has such wide application that it can be taught in many ways. The terms of reference for Equilibrium Thermodynamics are primarily those of the undergraduate physicist; but it is also suitable for courses in chemistry, engineering, materials science etc. The subject is usually taught in the first or second year of an undergraduate course, but the book takes the student to degree standard (and beyond). Prerequisites are elementary or school-level thermal physics.

Product Description

Equilibrium Thermodynamics gives a comprehensive but concise course in the fundamentals of classical thermodynamics. Although the subject is essentially classical in nature, illustrative material is drawn widely from modern physics and free use is made of microscopic ideas to illuminate it. The overriding objective in writing the book was to achieve a clear exposition: to give an account of the subject that it both stimulating and easy to learn from. Classical thermodynamics has such wide application that it can be taught in many ways. The terms of reference for Equilibrium Thermodynamics are primarily those of the undergraduate physicist; but it is also suitable for courses in chemistry, engineering, materials science etc. The subject is usually taught in the first or second year of an undergraduate course, but the book takes the student to degree standard (and beyond). Prerequisites are elementary or school-level thermal physics.

Concise and accurate *****
A good, solid introduction. this book is "particularly recommended" on the University of Cambridge Physics dept. course website, so it must be good!

Concise and accurate *****

A good, solid introduction.

this book is "particularly recommended" on the University of Cambridge Physics dept. course website, so it must be good!

Classical thermo, with clarity & rigor, for physicists *****
This is a beautifully clear into to thermo, treated purely as macroscopic phenomenology. Equilibrium thermodynamics (or thermostatics, as some call it) has manifold applications-in physics, chemistry, biology, geology, engineering, etc. The author is a physicist, and selects his material accordingly. However, he does devote the penultimate chapter , ch.11 ("Systems of Several Components") to some chemistry-type applications including chemical reactions in ideal gases. Prior to Adkins, most thermo books I studied merged thermo with statistical mechanics. Entropy treated the purely macroscopic or "thermo way" appeared to me abstract & unintuitive, and cycles with heat engines seemed an awkward import from engineering. The author entirely avoids leaning on statistical mechanics for the main thrust of his arguments, but makes a few side remarks about stat mech on occasion. By keeping the thermo pure, he teaches the reader its power and beauty. Everyone should learn thermo this way, and Adkins is a superb guide for the mature physicist. He achieves the unusual feat of providing careful, rigorous arguments while keeping the narrative smoothly flowing and readable. In other words, he honors the intellectual integrity so essential in this discipline, but never stifles the reader with pedantry or excessive detail. The problems are sometimes challenging, but with sustained effort, I could "crack" most of those I tried. It was only in chap. 11 that I started to find the problems too difficult, and that may well reflect my own lack of prior exposure in this area. (By the way, Adkins derives entropy with heat engines and Carnot cycles, but those who like a less torturous or "gizmo-ridden" route to entropy will be pleased that he also includes Caratheodory's abstract argument.) Bravo to the author for creating this first-rate textbook. I cannot praise it too highly.

Classical thermo, with clarity & rigor, for physicists *****

This is a beautifully clear into to thermo, treated purely as macroscopic phenomenology.

Equilibrium thermodynamics (or thermostatics, as some call it) has manifold applications-in physics, chemistry, biology, geology, engineering, etc. The author is a physicist, and selects his material accordingly. However, he does devote the penultimate chapter , ch.11 ("Systems of Several Components") to some chemistry-type applications including chemical reactions in ideal gases.

Prior to Adkins, most thermo books I studied merged thermo with statistical mechanics. Entropy treated the purely macroscopic or "thermo way" appeared to me abstract & unintuitive, and cycles with heat engines seemed an awkward import from engineering.
The author entirely avoids leaning on statistical mechanics for the main thrust of his arguments, but makes a few side remarks about stat mech on occasion. By keeping the thermo pure, he teaches the reader its power and beauty. Everyone should learn thermo this way, and Adkins is a superb guide for the mature physicist. He achieves the unusual feat of providing careful, rigorous arguments while keeping the narrative smoothly flowing and readable. In other words, he honors the intellectual integrity so essential in this discipline, but never stifles the reader with pedantry or excessive detail.

The problems are sometimes challenging, but with sustained effort, I could "crack" most of those I tried. It was only in chap. 11 that I started to find the problems too difficult, and that may well reflect my own lack of prior exposure in this area.

(By the way, Adkins derives entropy with heat engines and Carnot cycles, but those who like a less torturous or "gizmo-ridden" route to entropy will be pleased that he also includes Caratheodory's abstract argument.)

Bravo to the author for creating this first-rate textbook. I cannot praise it too highly.

The thermodynamics bible *****
This book concisely and thoroughly covers the main topics in classical thermodynamics, with clear explanations and derivations. As you would expect, the laws of thermodynamics, entropy, phase changes, and systems of several components are all covered, although statistical mechanics is not included. If you're studying thermodynamics at any level, and need a good textbook for reference or further reading, this is an excellent investment.

The thermodynamics bible *****

This book concisely and thoroughly covers the main topics in classical thermodynamics, with clear explanations and derivations. As you would expect, the laws of thermodynamics, entropy, phase changes, and systems of several components are all covered, although statistical mechanics is not included. If you're studying thermodynamics at any level, and need a good textbook for reference or further reading, this is an excellent investment.