The Laws of Thermodynamics by Peter Atkins

The Laws of Thermodynamics by Peter Atkins

The laws of thermodynamics drive everything that happens in the universe. From the sudden expansion of a cloud of gas to the cooling of hot metal--everything is moved or restrained by four simple laws. Written by Peter Atkins, one of the world's leading authorities on thermodynamics, this powerful and compact introduction explains what these four laws are and how they work, using accessible language and virtually no mathematics. Guiding the reader a step at a time, Atkins begins with Zeroth (so named because the first two laws were well established before scientists realized that a third law, relating to temperature, should precede them--hence the jocular name zeroth), and proceeds through the First, Second, and Third Laws, offering a clear account of concepts such as the availability of work and the conservation of energy. Atkins ranges from the fascinating theory of entropy (revealing how its unstoppable rise constitutes the engine of the universe), through the concept of free energy, and to the brink, and then beyond the brink, of absolute zero.About the Series: Combining authority with wit, accessibility, and style, Very Short Introductions offer an introduction to some of life's most interesting topics. Written by experts for the newcomer, they demonstrate the finest contemporary thinking about the central problems and issues in hundreds of key topics, from philosophy to Freud, quantum theory to Islam.

Review from previous edition It takes not only a great writer but a great scientist with a lifetime's experience to explains such a notoriously tricky area with absolute economy and precision, not to mention humour* Books of the Year, Observer. *
His engaging account...the lucid figures offer readers a firm understanding of energy and entropy. * Science *
Concise, well-written, engaging and carefully structured... an enjoyable and informative read. * Chemistry World *
Peter Atkins's account of the core concepts of thermodynamics is beautifully crafted. * Simon Mitton, THES *
A brief and invigoratingly limpid guide to the laws of thermodynamics. * Saturday Guardian *
Atkins's systematic foundations should go a long way towards easing confusion about the subject...an engaging book, just the right length (and depth) for an absorbing, informative read. * Mark Haw, Nature *
[Atkins'] ultra-compact guide to thermodynamics [is] a wonderful book that I wish I had read at university. * New Scientist *

Peter Atkins is the author of about 70 books, including the world-renowned and widely used Physical Chemistry, now in its 10th edition. He won the Grady-Stack award for science journalism in 2016. After graduating from the University of Leicester and a post-doctoral year in the University of California, Los Angeles, he returned to Oxford in 1965 as Fellow of Lincoln College and University Lecturer (later Professor) in physical chemistry. He retired in 2007, but continues to write and lecture worldwide.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780199572199
ISBN 10	0199572194
Title	The Laws of Thermodynamics
Author	Peter Atkins
Series	Very Short Introductions
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Oxford University Press
Year published	2010-03-25
Number of pages	128
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.