A Student's Guide to Entropy
Published on 29. August 2013
Book
Paperback/Softback
200 pages
978-1-107-65397-9 (ISBN)
Description
Striving to explore the subject in as simple a manner as possible, this book helps readers understand the elusive concept of entropy. Innovative aspects of the book include the construction of statistical entropy from desired properties, the derivation of the entropy of classical systems from purely classical assumptions, and a statistical thermodynamics approach to the ideal Fermi and ideal Bose gases. Derivations are worked through step-by-step and important applications are highlighted in over 20 worked examples. Around 50 end-of-chapter exercises test readers' understanding. The book also features a glossary giving definitions for all essential terms, a time line showing important developments, and list of books for further study. It is an ideal supplement to undergraduate courses in physics, engineering, chemistry and mathematics.
Reviews / Votes
'In A Student's Guide to Entropy, Don Lemons conveys both mathematical and physical intuition of entropy ... [he] is very thorough, clear, and succinct in his explanations, making sure that no subtlety is left unnoticed or unaccounted for. The reader feels that he/she is being taught and guided by an experienced teacher of thermodynamics and entropy ... This book will be essential not only to students but also to faculty who are charged with the difficult task of teaching a subject that involves entropy ... a thorough, self-contained guide to entropy for students and teachers.' Effrosyni Seitaridou, American Journal of Physics 'The book is well written ... Highly recommended.' Choice '... a truly first-rate book on the subject, and I would happily recommend it as the main (and inexpensive) text for a course of statistical mechanics.' The Observatory 'A Student's Guide to Entropy is an excellent textbook for undergraduate students and early stage graduate students in physics and engineering. ... Each concept is well defined - mathematical derivation of theories is rigorous and proceeds from fundamental notions to their final form in a methodical, step-by-step manner. The physical meaning of these equations is then explained in simple words, which is perhaps the most impressive feature of this book.' Prashant Khare, Contemporary PhysicsMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
Worked examples or Exercises; 38 Line drawings, unspecified
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 11 mm
Weight
290 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-107-65397-9 (9781107653979)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
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Don S. Lemons
A Student's Guide to Entropy
E-Book
09/2013
1st Edition
Cambridge University Press
€26.49
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Don S. Lemons
A Student's Guide to Entropy
Book
08/2013
Cambridge University Press
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Don S. Lemons
A Student's Guide to Entropy
Book
Cambridge University Press
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Person
Don S. Lemons is Professor Emeritus of Physics at Bethel College and a Guest Scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory. He taught undergraduate physics at Bethel College for 23 years.
Content
1. Thermodynamic entropy; 2. Statistical entropy; 3. Entropy of classical systems; 4. Entropy of quantized systems; 5. Entropy of a non-isolated system; 6. Entropy of Fermion systems; 7. Entropy of Boson system; 8. Entropy of information; Epilogue; Appendixes; Index.