An Introduction to Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics
An Introduction to Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics
This introductory textbook for standard undergraduate courses in thermodynamics has been completely rewritten to explore a greater number of topics, more clearly and concisely. Starting with an overview of important quantum behaviours, the book teaches students how to calculate probabilities in order to provide a firm foundation for later chapters. It introduces the ideas of classical thermodynamics and explores them both in general and as they are applied to specific processes and interactions. The remainder of the book deals with statistical mechanics. Each topic ends with a boxed summary of ideas and results, and every chapter contains numerous homework problems, covering a broad range of difficulties. Answers are given to odd-numbered problems, and solutions to even-numbered problems are available to instructors at www.cambridge.org/9781107694927.
- The entire book has been rewritten and now covers more topics
- Contains a greater number of homework problems which range in difficulty from warm-ups to challenges
- Is concise and has an easy reading style
Reviews & endorsements
'… a very good text for undergraduate students … very readable.' The Observatory
'The text is well written, clear and derivations are easy to follow. Summary sections in each chapter are helpful for reviewing the material just read.' Thomas Krause, Royal Military College of Canada
Product details
October 2013Paperback
9781107694927
568 pages
244 × 188 × 28 mm
1.2kg
Available
Table of Contents
- Preface
- Part I. Introduction:
- 1. Introduction
- Part II. Small Systems:
- 2. Statistics for small systems
- 3. Systems with many elements
- Part III. Energy and the First Law:
- 4. Internal energy
- 5. Interactions between systems
- Part IV. States and the Second Law:
- 6. Internal energy and the number of accessible states
- 7. Entropy and the second law
- 8. Entropy and thermal interactions
- Part V. Constraints:
- 9. Natural constraints
- 10. Models
- 11. Choice of variables
- 12. Special processes
- 13. Engines
- 14. Diffusive interactions
- Part VI. Classical Statistics:
- 15. Probabilities and microscopic behaviours
- 16. Kinetic theory and transport processes in gases
- 17. Magnetic properties of materials
- 18. The partition function
- Part VII. Quantum Statistics:
- 19. Introduction to quantum statistics
- 20. Quantum gases
- 21. Blackbody radiation
- 22. The thermal properties of solids
- 23. The electrical properties of materials
- 24. Low temperatures and degenerate systems
- Appendices
- Further reading
- Problem solutions
- Index.
