Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
Excerpt from For Engineers
Although written primarily for engineers, it is hoped that this book may be of service to students of physics and others who wish to acquire a working knowledge of elementary thermodynamics from the physical standpoint.
In presenting the fundamental notions of thermodynamics, the writer has adopted a method which his experience as a teacher encourages him to think useful. The notions are first introduced in a non-mathematical form; the reader is made familiar with them as physical realities, and learns to apply them to practical problems; then, and not till then, he studies the mathematical relations between them. This method appears to have two advantages: it prevents the non-mathematical student from becoming bewildered on the threshold, and it saves the mathematical student from any risk of failing to realize the meaning of the symbols with which he plays. When the non-mathematical student comes to face the mathematical relations, which he must do if he is to pass beyond the rudiments of the subject, he finds it comparatively easy to build on the foundation of physical concepts he has already laid: there is perhaps no better way to learn the meaning and use of partial differential coefficients than by applying them to thermodynamic ideas, once these ideas are clearly apprehended.
Accordingly the plan of the book is to begin with the elementary notions and their interpretation in practice, and to defer the study of general thermodynamic relations till near the end. Finally these relations are illustrated by applying them to characteristic equations of fluids, and in particular to steam, following Callendar's method.
The chapter on Internal Combustion Engines gives occasion for introducing some results of experiments on the internal energy and specific heats of gases, and this matter is dealt with further in an appendix which attempts an elementary account of the molecular theory.
In any exposition of the first principles of thermodynamics it is important to choose a way of dealing with temperature such that students may be led by simple and logical steps to understand the thermodynamic scale.
About the Publisher
Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com
This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
Synopsis
Excerpt from For Engineers
Relation of any one Function Of the State to two others Energy Equations and Relations deduced from them Expressions for the specific'heats K, and K p.
About the Publisher
Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com
This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.