Classical Thermodynamics: International Edition PDF

PREFACE

This book was written to serve as an undergraduate textbook in classical thermodynamics for engineering students. The text is for students who have had basic calculus (including differentiation and integration), physics, and the fundamentals of chemistry. The text is designed for a two-semester course sequence, or for an introductory one-semester course.

Our purposes in writing this book are (1) to explain fundamental concepts and principles of thermodynamics explicitly and to provide beginning undergraduate students with adequate information for a reasonable understanding of thermodynamics, (2) to provide a more comprehensive treatment of the second law of thermodynamics than is found in most beginning texts and to base this treatment on the most recent research in the field, and (3) to provide software that aids in a physical understanding of the problems while minimizing nonproductive time spent by students in working problems.

The pedagogy for the text is based on approximately 20 years of experience by each of the authors in teaching thermodynamics to a wide variety of students. Important terms and concepts are introduced early (many in Chapter 1), and then fully explained and illustrated later at the appropriate time. These terms and concepts are then used where applicable throughout the remainder of the text in order to reinforce the learning process. As a result of this approach the text provides more in-depth treatment of many difficult concepts, such as exergy, than most other texts. A systematic approach to problem solving is also outlined in Chapter 1 and used throughout the text.