Chapter 4 Thermodynamics

Thermodynamics is mainly concerned with the transformations of heat into mechanical work and the opposite transformations of mechanical work into heat.

– Enrico Fermi8

Think of thermodynamics as the language and system of quantifying energy and its conversions.

Key concepts:

  • System and surroundings
  • Energy and energy transfer
  • Entropy


References

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Fermi, E. Thermodynamics; Dover books in physics and mathematical physics; Dover Publications, 1956.