For those with some
mathematical background
Presented here is a multi-chaptered essay ENTROPY: Reflections of a Classical Thermodynamicist which appeared on a CD-ROM with the third edition of my textbook Chemical and Process Thermodynamics.
Taken in its entirety the work presents the various views of entropy and the resulting paradoxes and the final chapter attempts conceptual closure. Because each of the intermediate chapters(3 – 8) deals with a single topic and is somewhat independent, selective reading should be possible. Also, the material is organized for easy reading with mathematical details consigned to appendices.
However, if the reader is unfamiliar with quantum statistical mechanics, it is recommended that Chap. 2 be read before proceeding to later chapters.
Preface and Table of Contents
Ch. 1. An Overview of Thermodynamics
Ch. 2. The Microscopic Perspective
Ch. 3. The Third Law of Thermodynamics
Ch. 4. Entropy and Information
Ch. 5. Maxwell’s Demon
Ch. 6. Boltzmann’s H-Theorem
Ch. 7. The Gibbs Mixing Paradox
Ch. 8. The Mystique of Entropy
Ch. 9. A Search for Conceptual Closure
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