Description
Book SynopsisThe Second Law of Thermodynamics, that entropy increases, is arguably the most fundamental law of nature. And yet for some, entropy itself is a mystery, the cause of confusion and misunderstanding. How can it be that something so fundamental and universal be so hard to grasp? How can it have happened that thoughtful people appreciate the significance and universal applicability of the Second Law without understanding the nature of entropy, its sole concern? This book presents a coherent formulation of all aspects of thermodynamics and statistical mechanics with entropy as the unifying theme. This includes formulating equilibrium theory from first principles, and explaining the role of the Second Law in establishing the equilibrium state. It also includes establishing the foundations of non-equilibrium theory by generalizing the concept of entropy in an appropriate way. Finally, it addresses the relationship between classical and quantum statistical mechanics by invoking the collapse
