The laws of thermodynamics : a very short introduction / Peter Atkins.
"From the sudden expansion of a cloud of gas or the cooling of tea, to the unfolding of a thought in our minds and even the course of life itself, everything is governed by the four Laws of Thermodynamics. These laws specify the nature of 'energy' and 'temperature', and establish the arrow of time: why things change and why death must come." "Originally published as Four Laws that Drive the Universe, this topic is now brought into the Very Short Introduction series. Explaining the basis and deeper implications of each law and highlighting its relevance with everyday examples, Atkins uses the minimum of mathematics to introduce concepts such as entropy and free energy, and takes us to the brink of absolute zero of temperature, and beyond."--Jacket.
Record details
- ISBN: 9780199572199
- ISBN: 0199572194
- Physical Description: xiv, 103 pages : illustrations ; 18 cm.
- Publisher: Oxford ; Oxford University Press, 2010.
Content descriptions
General Note: | "First published in hardback as Four laws that drive the universe, 2007, first published as a Very short introduction in 2010"--Title page verso. |
Bibliography, etc. Note: | Includes bibliographical references and indexes. |
Formatted Contents Note: | 1. The zeroth law : the concept of temperature -- 2. The first law : the conservation of energy -- 3. The second law : the increase in entropy -- 4. Free energy : the availability of work -- 5. The third law : the unattainability of zero. |
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Subject: | Laws of thermodynamics. Physical laws. |
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Available copies
- 1 of 1 copy available at Kirtland Community College.
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- 0 current holds with 1 total copy.
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Location | Call Number / Copy Notes | Barcode | Shelving Location | Status | Due Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kirtland Community College Library | QC 311 .A85 2010 | 30775305503824 | General Collection | Available | - |
The Laws of Thermodynamics: a Very Short Introduction
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Summary
The Laws of Thermodynamics: a Very Short Introduction
The laws of thermodynamics drive everything that happens in the universe. From the sudden expansion of a cloud of gas to the cooling of hot metal--everything is moved or restrained by four simple laws. Written by Peter Atkins, one of the world's leading authorities on thermodynamics, this powerful and compact introduction explains what these four laws are and how they work, using accessible language and virtually no mathematics. Guiding the reader a step at a time, Atkins begins with Zeroth (so named because the first two laws were well established before scientists realized that a third law, relating to temperature, should precede them--hence the jocular name zeroth), and proceeds through the First, Second, and Third Laws, offering a clear account of concepts such as the availability of work and the conservation of energy. Atkins ranges from the fascinating theory of entropy (revealing how its unstoppable rise constitutes the engine of the universe), through the concept of free energy, and to the brink, and then beyond the brink, of absolute zero. About the Series: Combining authority with wit, accessibility, and style, Very Short Introductions offer an introduction to some of life's most interesting topics. Written by experts for the newcomer, they demonstrate the finest contemporary thinking about the central problems and issues in hundreds of key topics, from philosophy to Freud, quantum theory to Islam.