Preface

Summary

This book is intended as a thorough but concise course on the fundamentals of classical thermodynamics. My overriding objective in writing has been to achieve a clear and stimulating exposition: to give an account of the subject that is easy to learn from.

There are many ways of writing a textbook on thermodynamics because the subject is relevant to so many branches of science. The terms of reference of Equilibrium thermodynamics are primarily those of the undergraduate physicist; but it is also suitable for use in materials sciences, engineering and chemistry. The subject is usually taught in the first or second year of a UK undergraduate course but the book takes the student to degree standard and beyond. Prerequisites are a knowledge of elementary mechanics, calculus and electromagnetism, and a familiarity with school-level thermal physics. In overseas universities, thermodynamics may be taught somewhat later in an undergraduate course to allow more time for preparatory work.

Many books and courses on thermal physics attempt to develop classical thermodynamics and statistical mechanics side by side. Although it is essential that the relationship between the two be established at some stage of a scientific undergraduate's education, it is best to teach classical thermodynamics first and separately, for the ability to use it well depends largely on knowing what it can achieve without appealing to the microscopic nature of things.