Thermodynamics

Thermodynamics is:

The name was coined in 1849 by Lord Kelvin by combining Greek words for heat (thermos) and power (dynamos). Thermodynamics involves some of the most basic and important of all scientific concepts (Nos. 3 and 4 on one "top 10" list I've seen).

In some ways, thermodynamics is simpler than you might expect. All the fundamental concepts are based on observation of everyday experience. This observation has been formalized into 3 Laws of Thermodynamics that investigate

  1. How much energy?
    "You can't get something for nothing!"
    conservation of mass & energy
  2. How efficiently does energy move?
    Potential to do work is lost through disorder
    "quality" of energy tends to decrease (entropy increases)
  3. There is an "absolute zero"

If everything is so simple, why does thermodynamics have the reputation of being hard?

It is full of hard words and signs and numbers, not very entertaining or understandable looking ... (quoted in Levenspiel, p. xi)
The difficulty comes from making precise descriptions of phenomena and in developing a mathematical framework that allows us to cultivate an understanding of the Laws.

References:

  1. Cengel, Y.A. and M.A. Boles, Thermodynamics: An Engineering Approach (3rd ed.), WCB McGraw-Hill, 1998, pp. 2-3
  2. Elliott, J.R. and C.T. Lira, Introductory Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics, Prentice Hall PTR, 1999, pp. 3-5
  3. Levenspiel, O., Understanding Engineering Thermo, Prentice Hall PTR, 1996, p. xi-xii
  4. Sonntag, R.E., C. Borgnakke, and G.J. Van Wylen, Fundamentals of Thermodynamics (5th ed.), John Wiley, 1998, p. 16
  5. Sonntag, R.E., C. Borgnakke, and G.J. Van Wylen, Fundamentals of Thermodynamics (6th ed.), John Wiley, 1998, p. 14

R.M. Price
Original: 5/20/98
Modified: 5/22/2000; 5/20/2004

Copyright 2004 by R.M. Price -- All Rights Reserved

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