Thermodynamics of visco-elasticity

Abstract

Thermostatics, which even now is usually called thermodynamics, has an unfortunate history and a cancerous tradition. It arose in a chaos of metaphysical and indeed irrational controversy, the traces of which drip their poison even today. As compared with the older science of mechanics and the younger science of electromagnetism, its mathematical structure is meager. Though claims for its breadth of application are often extravagant, the examples from which its principles usually are inferred are most special, and extensive mathematical developments based on fundamental equations, such as typify mechanics and electro-magnetism, are wanting. The logical standards acceptable in thermostatics fail to meet the criteria of other exact sciences; in books and papers concerning it the proportion of words if not prayers to equations is high — to proved theorems, almost infinite. There is nothing that can be said by mathematical symbols and relations which cannot also be said by words. The converse, however, is false. Much that can be and is said by words cannot successfully be put into equations, because it is nonsense. When a physical writer expresses an assertion in words only, he is refusing to stand up to the test.