Skip to main content

Mathematics of Thermodynamics

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Physical Chemistry in Depth
  • 4167 Accesses

There is a story about Sommerfeld and thermodynamics that is cited in several sources [1, p. 43], including the Internet.

When Sommerfeld was asked why he did not write a book on thermodynamics, because he had written books on nearly every topic of physics he replied:

Thermodynamics is a funny subject. The first time you go through it, you don’t understand it at all. The second time you go through it, you think you understand it, except for one or two points. The third time you go through it, you know you don’t understand it, but by that time you are so used to that subject, it doesn’t bother you anymore.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Laidler, K.J., Meiser, J.H.: Physical Chemistry. The Benjamin Cummings Publishing Company, Menlo Park, CA (1982)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Sommerfeld, A.: Vorlesungen über theoretische Physik. In: F. Bopp, J. Meixner (eds.) Thermodynamik und Statistik, vol. 5, 2nd edn. Harri Deutsch, Frankfurt (2002 [reprinted])

    Google Scholar 

  3. Giles, R.: Mathematical Foundations of Thermodynamics, International Series of Monographs on Pure and Applied Mathematics, vol. 53. Pergamon Press, Oxford (1964)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Landsberg, P.T.: Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics. Dover Publications, New York (1990)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Owen, D.R.: A First Course in the Mathematical Foundations of Thermodynamics. Undergraduate Texts in Mathematics. Springer-Verlag, New York (1984)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Weisstein, E.W.: Transform. From MathWorld – A Wolfram Web Resource: [electronic] http://mathworld.wolfram.com/Transform.html (2009)

  7. Alberty, R.A.: Legendre transforms in chemical thermodynamics. J. Chem. Thermodyn. 29(5), 501–516 (1997)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Alberty, R.A.: Use of Legendre transforms in chemical thermodynamics: International union of pure and applied chemistry, physical chemistry division, commission on thermodynamics. J. Chem. Thermodyn. 34(11), 1787–1823 (2002)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Degenhart, C.: Thermodynamics. A summary. [electronic] christof-degenhart.de/TeX/td.ps.gz (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Zwillinger, D.: Fokker-Planck equation. In: Handbook of Differential Equations, 2nd edn., pp. 254–258. Academic Press Inc., Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Publishers, Boston, MA (1992)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Couchman, P.R., Jesser, W.A.: On the thermodynamics of surfaces. Surf. Sci. 34(2), 212–224 (1973)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Eriksson, J.C.: Thermodynamics of surface phase systems: V. Contribution to the thermodynamics of the solid-gas interface. Surf. Sci. 14(1), 221–246 (1969)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Guidelli, R.: Superficial work and surface stress at solid electrodes: A thermodynamic assessment. J. Electroanal. Chem. 453(1–2), 69–77 (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Guidelli, R.: A reply to the question of whether the internal energy of solid interfaces can be of a non-homogeneous nature. J. Electroanal. Chem. 472(2), 174–177 (1999)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Láng, G., Heusler, K.E.: Can the internal energy function of solid interfaces be of a nonhomogeneous nature? J. Electroanal. Chem. 472(2), 168–173 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Sørensen, T.S., Compañ, V.: On the Gibbs-Duhem equation for thermodynamic systems of mixed Euler order with special reference to gravitational and nonelectroneutral systems. Electrochim. Acta 42(4), 639–649 (1997)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Weisstein, E.W.: Series reversion. From MathWorld – AWolframWeb Resource: [electronic] http://mathworld.wolfram.com/SeriesReversion.html (2004)

  18. Gibbs, J.W.: Dynamics, vector analysis and multiple algebra, electromagnetic theory of light, etc. In: The Collected Works, vol. 2. Yale University Press, New Haven, CT (1948 [reprinted])

    Google Scholar 

  19. Lindsay, R.B.: Concepts and Methods of Theoretical Physics. Dover Publications, Inc., New York (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Callen, H.B.: Thermodynamics. John Wiley, New York (1961)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Crawford, F.H.: On Jacobian methods in thermodynamics. Am. J. Phys. 17, 397 (1949)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Shaw, A.N.: The derivation of thermodynamic relations for a simple system. Trans. R. Soc. (London) A234, 299–328 (1935)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Wood, S.: Thermodynamics of simple systems. [electronic] http://www.sci.uidaho.edu/geol555/topic_2.htm (2006). Course GEOL 555

  24. Pinkerton, R.C.: A Jacobian method for the rapid evaluation of thermodynamic derivatives, without the use of tables. J. Phys. Chem. 56, 799–800 (1952)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Johannes Karl Fink .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2009 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Fink, J.K. (2009). Mathematics of Thermodynamics. In: Physical Chemistry in Depth. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-01014-9_1

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics