Skip to Main Content
Statistical Thermodynamics
book

Statistical Thermodynamics

by Iwao Teraoka
March 2019
Intermediate to advanced content levelIntermediate to advanced
352 pages
9h 26m
English
Wiley
Content preview from Statistical Thermodynamics

1 Introduction

Section 1.1 looks at the similarities and differences between classical thermodynamics and statistical thermodynamics. Then, in Section 1.2, we see several examples of phenomena that are beautifully described by statistical mechanics. Section 1.3 lists practices of notation adopted by this book.

1.1 Classical Thermodynamics and Statistical Thermodynamics

Classical thermodynamics, when applied to a closed system, starts with two fundamental laws. The first law of thermodynamics accounts for a balance of energy:

1.1equation

where the system receives heat d′Q and work d′W to change its internal energy by dU (see Figure 1.1). The prime in “d′” indicates that the quantity may not be a thermodynamic variable, i.e. not expressed as a total derivative. When the volume of the system changes from V to V + dV, d′W = −p dV, where p is the pressure.

Schematic of a closed system (shaded box) received heat d'Q and work d'W (arrows) from the surroundings to change its internal energy by dU.

Figure 1.1 A closed system received heat d′Q and work d′W from the surroundings to change its internal energy by dU.

The second law of thermodynamics expresses d′Q by a thermodynamic variable, but only when the change is reversible:

1.2equation

where T is the temperature. The second law introduces the entropy S.

In classical thermodynamics, ...

Become an O’Reilly member and get unlimited access to this title plus top books and audiobooks from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers, thousands of courses curated by job role, 150+ live events each month,
and much more.
Start your free trial

You might also like

Heat and Thermodynamics

Heat and Thermodynamics

Anandamoy Manna
Mathematical Statistics

Mathematical Statistics

Dieter Rasch, Dieter Schott
Mathematics for Physicists

Mathematics for Physicists

Brian R. Martin, Graham Shaw

Publisher Resources

ISBN: 9781118305119Purchase book