The Concepts and Logic of Classical Thermodynamics as a Theory of Heat Engines

Mon but n'a jamais be de m'occuper des ces matieres comme physicien, mais seulement comme /ogicien ... F. REECH, 1856 I do not think it possible to write the history of a science until that science itself shall have been understood, thanks to a clear, explicit, and decent logical structure. The exuberance of dim, involute, and undisciplined his torical essays upon classical thermodynamics reflects the confusion of the theory itself. Thermodynamics, despite its long history, has never had the benefit of a magisterial synthesis like that which EULER gave to hydro dynamics in 1757 or that which MAXWELL gave to electromagnetism in 1873; the expositions in the works of discovery in thermodynamics stand a pole apart from the pellucid directness of the notes in which CAUCHY presented his creation and development of the theory of elasticity from 1822 to 1845. Thermodynamics was born in obscurity and disorder, not to say confusion, and there the common presentations of it have remained. With this tractate I aim to provide a simple logical structure for the classical thermodynamics of homogeneous fluid bodies. Like any logical structure, it is only one of many possible ones. I think it is as simple and pretty as can be.

Klappentext

The consequences of the existence of a thermal equation of state, the eighteenth century doctrine of latent and specific heats, and Carnot's general axiom are developed here completely and rigorously. The book has conceptual, historical, and pedagogical aims: for those already expert in thermodynamics, it is shown how the traditional theory can be developed, using simple mathematics alone, from natural assumptions about heat engines. The features common to the thermodynamics of Carnot and to Clausius are revealed, and the irreconcilable differences discerned. A clean elementary thermodynamics suitable for beginners is presented: anyone proficient in calculus and with a fair grasp of high-school physics of heat will be able to understand the book fully.

Inhalt
I. Calorimetry.- 1 Notations. Constitutive Domain. Heat and Work. Processes. Paths. Cycles.- 2 Thermal Equation of State. Examples. First Reversal Theorem.- 3 The Doctrine of Latent and Specific Heats. Second Reversal Theorem. Fundamental Theorem of Calorimetry.- 4 Adiabatic Processes. Laplace's Theorem.- 5 Examples.- 6 Emission-Absorption Estimates.- II. Carnot's General Axiom.- 7 Carnot Processes. Carnot Cycles and Webs. Lemmas regarding Heat and Work for Cycles in a Carnot Web.- 8 Carnot's General Axiom. Local Theory: Reech's First Theorem, First Principal Lemma.- 9 Basic Constitutive Restrictions in a Thermodynamic Part and in the Normal Set. Pro-Entropy and Internal Pro-Energy.- 10 Cyclic Processes in ?th and ?th. C-Processes. Efficiency Theorem and Emission-Absorption Theorem for C-Processes. Completeness Theorems.- 11 Properties of Ideal Gases and Van der Waals Fluids.- 12 Relation of Motors to Refrigerators.- 13 Estimates of the Efficiency of a Body undergoing a Cyclic Process.- 14 The Fourth Theorem of Reech: Existence of Four Thermodynamic Potentials.- III. Universal Efficiency Of Ordinary Carnot Cycles.- 15 Universal Efficiency of Ordinary Carnot Cycles Compatible with the Existence of an Ideal Gas with Constant Specific Heats. Proof of the First Law and Second Law of Thermodynamics.- 16 Invariance of the Carnot Function under Change of the Unit of Temperature. Alternative to Axiom V.- Epilogue.- 17 Axioms for Energy and Entropy.- Index of frequently used symbols.- Index of frequently used terms.- Index of references to historical origins of thermodynamics.- Index of references to standard presentations of thermodynamics.