Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- Preface and Acknowledgements
- 1 Introduction
- Case Study I The Origins of Newton’s Laws of Motion and of Gravity
- Case Study II Maxwell’s Equations
- Case Study III Mechanics and Dynamics: Linear and Non-linear
- Case Study IV Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics
- 11 Basic Thermodynamics
- 12 Kinetic Theory and the Origin of Statistical Mechanics
- Case Study V The Origins of the Concepts of Quantisation and Quanta
- Case Study VI Special and General Relativity
- Case Study VII Cosmology and Physics
- Author Index
- Subject Index
11 - Basic Thermodynamics
from Case Study IV - Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 27 March 2020
Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- Preface and Acknowledgements
- 1 Introduction
- Case Study I The Origins of Newton’s Laws of Motion and of Gravity
- Case Study II Maxwell’s Equations
- Case Study III Mechanics and Dynamics: Linear and Non-linear
- Case Study IV Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics
- 11 Basic Thermodynamics
- 12 Kinetic Theory and the Origin of Statistical Mechanics
- Case Study V The Origins of the Concepts of Quantisation and Quanta
- Case Study VI Special and General Relativity
- Case Study VII Cosmology and Physics
- Author Index
- Subject Index
Summary
The understanding of heat and temperature was central to the industrial revolution, which needed heat engines to supply power for industrial processes where it was required. The second law was derived from Carnot's insights into the operation of perfect heat engines. The first law was more controversial until the problems were resolved by Clausius and William Thomson through a careful analysis of the first and second laws of thermodynamics. In turn, this led to the understanding of the direction of heat flow through the introduction of a new function of state, the concept of entropy.
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- Theoretical Concepts in PhysicsAn Alternative View of Theoretical Reasoning in Physics, pp. 244 - 287Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2020