An Introduction to Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics [Hardcover]

An introductory textbook for standard undergraduate courses in thermodynamics, covering important quantum behaviours, classical thermodynamics and statistical mechanics.This introductory textbook for undergraduate courses in thermodynamics starts with an overview of important quantum behaviors, before introducing the ideas of classical thermodynamics and statistical mechanics. Every chapter contains numerous homework problems, with answers given to odd-numbered problems and solutions to even-numbered problems available to instructors at www.cambridge.org/9781107694927.This introductory textbook for undergraduate courses in thermodynamics starts with an overview of important quantum behaviors, before introducing the ideas of classical thermodynamics and statistical mechanics. Every chapter contains numerous homework problems, with answers given to odd-numbered problems and solutions to even-numbered problems available to instructors at www.cambridge.org/9781107694927.This introductory textbook for standard undergraduate courses in thermodynamics has been completely rewritten to explore a greater number of topics, more clearly and concisely. Starting with an overview of important quantum behaviours, the book teaches students how to calculate probabilities in order to provide a firm foundation for later chapters. It introduces the ideas of classical thermodynamics and explores them both in general and as they are applied to specific processes and interactions. The remainder of the book deals with statistical mechanics. Each topic ends with a boxed summary of ideas and results, and every chapter contains numerous homework problems, covering a broad range of difficulties. Answers are given to odd-numbered problems, and solutions to even-numbered problems are available to instructors at www.cambridge.org/9781107694927.Preface; Part I. Introduction: 1. Introduction; Part II. Small Systems: 2. Statistics for small systems; 3. Systems with many elements; Part III. Energy andlÓ&