Ebook The Laws of Thermodynamics: A Very Short Introduction, by Peter Atkins
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The Laws of Thermodynamics: A Very Short Introduction, by Peter Atkins
Ebook The Laws of Thermodynamics: A Very Short Introduction, by Peter Atkins
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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.
- Sales Rank: #62967 in Books
- Brand: imusti
- Published on: 2010-04-19
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 4.40" h x .70" w x 6.70" l, .37 pounds
- Binding: Paperback
- 120 pages
- Oxford University Press USA
Review
Review from previous edition: "It takes not only a great writer but a great scientist with a lifetime's experience to explains such a notoriously tricky area with absolute economy and precision, not to mention humour."
--Books of the Year, Observer. 30.11.08
"His engaging account...the lucid figures offer readers a firm understanding of energy and entropy."
--Science 4/04/08
"Concise, well-written, engaging and carefully structured... an enjoyable and informative read."
--Chemistry World 01/12/2007
"Peter Atkins's account of the core concepts of thermodynamics is beautifully crafted."
--Simon Mitton, THES 16/11/2007
"A brief and invigoratingly limpid guide to the laws of thermodynamics."
--Saturday Guardian 15/09/2007
"Atkins's systematic foundations should go a long way towards easing confusion about the subject...an engaging book, just the right length (and depth) for an absorbing, informative read."
--Mark Haw, Nature 20/09/2007
"[Atkins'] ultra-compact guide to thermodynamics [is] a wonderful book that I wish I had read at university."
--New Scientist 20/10/2007
About the Author
Peter Atkins is Professor of Chemistry at the University of Oxford and Fellow of Lincoln College. He is the author of nearly 60 books, which include Galileo's Finger: The Ten Great Ideas of Science and the famed textbook Physical Chemistry (now in its eighth edition).
Most helpful customer reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful.
Perhaps best for those who already understand the subject
By Steve Harrison
Having worked my way through most of this very short introduction to thermodynamics (I confess to having given up about halfway through its discussion of the Second Law) I conclude that thermodynamics does not lend itself to a very short introduction. The book clearly tries to give a simple, popularized explanation; those without much of a background in science, mathematics, or engineering, though, may quickly find it somewhat mystifying. There are a few principles that I think it managed to teach even me. But to get much more out of it apparently requires suitable prerequisites.
I cannot blame the author for his book's inability to reduce a complex scientific subject to the level of a mere lawyer. Your mileage may vary. But be prepared for a fair amount of mathematics, often accompanied by the suggestion -- common in works of science but not, I would have thought, entirely appropriate for a "very short introduction" -- that, based on the equations you're presented, coming up with various other equations and understanding their import is a trifling thing that requires no explanation.
25 of 26 people found the following review helpful.
As good as it gets (for a short book)
By M. Henri De Feraudy
I've ordered many books in thermodynamics to see how the subject is taught and to get a deep understanding.
This book is one of the best introductory science books I have ever held in my hands. Peter Atkins is a master at finding
lucid analogies (this shows up when he describes enthalpy and free energy).
I do not agree with the reviewer who criticises the book for not discussing some advanced applications like biology. This is a very short introduction for goodness sake!
However the reviewer who complained thathe didnt always understand the English does get my sympathy. The style is pithy, and it is perhaps because I have already read quite a few other books that I havent been put off by this.
I also recommend his books on chemistry which are also very well written. For example
If you feel you never quite understood some of the abstract concepts of thermodynamics, then this one is for you (if you like a terse book), or you could get the more leisurely introduction by John Fenn Engines, Energy, And Entropy: A Thermodynamics Primer. The latter is more geared to the discussion of engines.
Do not think you will be ready to sit exams on thermodynamics by just reading this book though, it's just meant to get you over some conceptual hurdles or to complement your other readings.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful.
Very engaging and exceptionally well-written: An excellent introduction to or concise review of key concepts
By Modigliani8901
I'm a big fan of the "A Very Short Introduction" series, wanted to review some basic physics (a longstanding interest), and this seemed like a nice concise review of the basics. I was not only pleased but delighted with the book. With respect to content, it provides a good overview at an introductory level (more precisely, at an ambitious high school or introductory college level). There are excellent chapters on each of the four laws of thermodynamics: the zeroth law that addresses the concept of temperature (the funny numbering is a historical artifact in that it was not named until the 20th century); the first law (on conservation of energy); the second law (on entropy, one of the most important laws in all of science); and the third law (which holds that nothing can be cooled or cool to absolute zero). There is also a fine chapter on energy and work. What distinguishes this little book from others, however, has more to do with style than content. I was not familiar with the author, Peter Atkins, until downloading this recently; after reading it, I immediately downloaded three of his other books mainly because I enjoy his writing so much. (One of the other books is Galileo's Finger: The Ten Great Ideas of Science, which has suberb chapters on evolution, DNA, energy, entropy, atoms, quantum physics, cosmology, and other things.) He is a gifted educator who explains complex concepts in clear, plain language with an emphasis on basic principles and minimal math (which can either be studied or ignored at the reader's discretion). Moreover, he is able to make the material come alive by drawing on the history of physics, describing how various laws and principles came to be discovered, and by explaining their practical significance. For instance, he explains how the second law governs everyday experiences such as cars and refrigerators, and, more importantly, that it has more far-reaching implications, one of which is that it is impossible to build a perpetual motion machine. In short, the book provides an excellent conceptual framework for what is usually considered a difficult subject, simplifying the material by presenting it in bite size pieces.
In conclusion: (1) For dabblers like me, this is a superb introduction and summary; (2) For students who want an introduction to the basic concepts, this is for you -- no one should take an introductory physics course that includes thermodynamics without reading this.
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