Finn’s Thermal Physics (3rd Edition)

Description

This fully updated and expanded new edition continues to provide the most readable, concise, and easy-to-follow introduction to thermal physics. While maintaining the style of the original work, the book now covers statistical mechanics and incorporates worked examples systematically throughout the text. It also includes more problems and essential updates, such as discussions on superconductivity, magnetism, Bose-Einstein condensation, and climate change. Anyone needing to acquire an intuitive understanding of thermodynamics from first principles will find this third edition indispensable.

Andrew Rex is professor of physics at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington. He is author of several textbooks and the popular science book, Commonly Asked Questions in Physics

Table of Contents

1. TEMPERATURE
   1. Basic Concepts
   2. Equilibrium State
   3. Equations Of State
   4. Scales Of Temperature
2. REVERSIBLE PROCESSES AND WORK
   1. Reversible Processes Work
   2. Other Kinds Of Work
   3. Example Of The Calculation Of Work In A Reversible Process
3. THE FIRST LAW OF THERMODYNAMICS
   1. The Work Of Thompson And Joule
   2. The First Law Of Thermodynamics
   3. Heat Capacity
   4. Kinetic Theory Of Gases
   5. Ideal Gases And The First Law
   6. The Joule-Kelvin Effect
   7. Steady Flow Process—The Turbine
4. THE SECOND LAW OF THERMODYNAMICS
   1. Carnot Cycles
   2. Statements Of The Second Law Of Thermodynamics
   3. Carnot’s Theorem
   4. The Thermodynamic Temperature Scale
   5. Engines And Refrigerators
   6. Summary
5. ENTROPY
   1. The Clausius Inequality
   2. Entropy
   3. The Principle Of Increasing Entropy
   4. Entropy–Temperature Diagrams
   5. The Thermodynamic Identity
   6. Other Examples Of Entropy Calculations
6. STATISTICAL MECHANICS
   1. Introduction to probability and statistics
   2. Microscopic view of entropy
   3. Maxwell-boltzmann statistics
   4. Ideal gases
7. THE THERMODYNAMIC POTENTIALS AND THE MAXWELL RELATIONS
   1. Thermodynamic Potentials
   2. Internal Energy
   3. Enthalpy H
   4. Helmholtz Function F
   5. Gibbs Function G
   6. Availability Function A
   7. The Thermodynamic Square
   8. Example Using A Maxwell Relation
8. GENERAL THERMODYNAMIC RELATIONS
   1. Difference In Heat Capacities, C_p – C_v
      
   2. Evaluation Of And
   3. Energy Equation
   4. Ratio Of Heat Capacities, C_p/C_v
      
   5. Revisiting The Entropy Of An Ideal Gas
   6. Joule And Joule-Kelvin Coefficients
9. MAGNETIC SYSTEMS
   1. Thermodynamics Of Magnetic Materials
   2. Magnetic Cooling
10. PHASE CHANGES
    1. Pvt Surfaces
    2. Clausius–Clapeyron Equation For First-Order Phase Changes
    3. Variation Of Gibbs Function G In First-Order Transitions
    4. Second-Order Phase Changes
    5. Examples Of Phase Changes Of Different Orders
    6. Superconductivity And Superfluidity
11. OPEN SYSTEMS AND CHEMICAL POTENTIAL
    1. Chemical Potential
    2. Three Applications Of The Chemical Potential
12. THE THIRD LAW OF THERMODYNAMICS
    1. Statements Of The Third Law
    2. Consequences Of The Third Law
    3. The Unattainability Of Absolute Zero
13. QUANTUM STATISTICS
    1. Classical And Quantum Statistics
    2. Photons And Thermal Radiation
    3. Application Of Fermi-Dirac Statistics To Electrons In Metals
    4. Bose-Einstein Condensation

Reviews

“statistical physics… is a welcome addition to what has become one of the classic thermodynamics textbooks”

—Dr. Kevin Donovan, Queen Mary, University of London

“Finn’s text has always been a favourite because of its uncluttered style and the way it anticipates where students will run into problems. This new edition fills out the statistical mechanics coverage of the book, making it again a competitive choice for the way thermodynamics is taught today.”

—Dr. Carl Michal, University of British Columbia

“an excellent update and refresh of Finn’s classic text. The original content is enhanced by a clearer, more digestible presentation. Additional insights are given to some particularly tricky concepts…. The new chapters on introductory and quantum statistical mechanics expand the book’s coverage to encompass all the key topics in undergraduate thermal physics.”

—Dr Tim Veal, University of Liverpool

Author Biography

Andrew Rex is professor of physics at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington. He received the his B.A. in physics from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1977 and the his Ph.D. in physics from the University of Virginia in 1982. At Virginia he worked under the direction of Bascom S. Deaver, Jr. on the development of new superconducting materials. After completing requirements for the his Ph.D. he joined the faculty at Puget Sound.

Dr. Rex has served in administrative roles, including chair of his department and Director of the University of Puget Sound Honors Program. He is devoted to physics education and has been an active participant in the American Association of Physics Teachers, the Society of Physics Students, Sigma Pi Sigma, and Sigma Xi. In 2004 Dr. Rex was recognized for his teaching with the President’s Award for Teaching Excellence.