The Dynamics of Heat [Hardcover]

Hans U. Fuchs (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0387946039 | ISBN-13: 978-0387946030 | Publication Date: February 23, 1996 | Edition: 1

Based on a course given to beginning physics, chemistry, and engineering students at the Winterthur Polytechnic Institute, this text approaches the fundamentals of thermodynamics from the viewpoint of continuum mechanics. By describing physical processes in terms of the flow and balance of physical quantities, the book provides a unified approach to hydraulics, electricity, mechanics and thermodynamics. In this way it becomes clear that the entropy is the fundamental property that is transported in thermal processes and that the temperature is its measure.
Previous knowledge of thermodynamics is not required, but readers should be familiar with basic electricity, mechanics, and chemistry and should have some knowledge of elementary calculus. Both the theory and applications are included as well as many exercises and solved problems from various fields of science and engineering.

Editorial Reviews

Review

From the reviews of the second edition: “A vigorous approach to the exposition of the fundamentals of thermal-fluid sciences by employing a unified approach to thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and electricity. Fuchs (Zurich Univ. of Applied Sciences, Switzerland) argues, with extensive topical depth … can be used to describe the dynamics of thermal energy (heat) transport. This flow and balance of entropy model is featured throughout the text with a system dynamics approach. … an invaluable self-study reference for advanced readers in the field. Summing Up: Recommended. Researchers/faculty and professionals in thermal-fluid sciences.” (B. Tao, Choice, Vol. 48 (11), August, 2011) --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

From the Back Cover

Based on courses for students of science, engineering, and systems science at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences at Winterthur, this text approaches the fundamentals of thermodynamics from the point of view of continuum physics. By describing physical processes in terms of the flow and balance of physical quantities, the author achieves a unified approach to hydraulics, electricity, mechanics and thermodynamics. In this way, it becomes clear that entropy is the fundamental property that is transported in thermal processes (i.e., heat), and that temperature is the corresponding potential. The resulting theory of the creation, flow, and balance of entropy provides the foundation of a dynamical theory of heat. This extensively revised and updated second edition includes new material on dynamical chemical processes, thermoelectricity, and explicit dynamical modeling of thermal and chemical processes. To make the book more useful for courses on thermodynamics and physical chemistry at different levels, coverage of topics is divided into introductory and more advanced and formal treatments. Previous knowledge of thermodynamics is not required, but the reader should be familiar with basic electricity, mechanics, and chemistry and should have some knowledge of elementary calculus. The special feature of the first edition – the integration of thermodynamics, heat transfer, and chemical processes – has been maintained and strengthened. Key Features: Presents a unified approach to thermodynamics and heat transport in fundamental physical and chemical processesFirst revised edition of a successful text/reference in fourteen yearsMore than 25 percent new materialProvides worked examples, questions, and problem sets for use as a teaching text or for self testingIncludes many system dynamics models of laboratory experiments --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 728 pages
• Publisher: Springer; 1 edition (February 23, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0387946039
• ISBN-13: 978-0387946030
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 7.4 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,016,332 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A facinating view of entropy, March 7, 2002

By 

Edward J. McInerney (San Jose, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Dynamics of Heat (Hardcover)

This thermodynamics textbook is different from the typical treatment. Instead of developing entropy as an abstract mathematical concept loosely connected with "disorder", Fuchs views entropy as a fluid, much like we view charge or momentum as a fluid. It is an odd fluid to be sure, since it is not conserved and is created in dissipative processes. Nevertheless, this approach allows us to bring much of our intuition of fluids to bear on thermo problems. As a result, we can know entropy in both a mathematical sense and an intuitive sense, and thus be more comfortable with the concept. The analogy to a fluid turns out to be a pretty good one. For instance, consider the comparison to electric charge. Currents of charge are driven by gradients of a potential. Currents of entropy are driven by gradients in temperature. Currents of energy are carried along with currents of charge. Likewise, currents of energy are carried with currents of entropy. Once you start thinking in these terms, problems that seemed very complex are suddenly straightforward.

The book covers a wide range of topics in thermodynamics, plus there are chapters on related topics. There are many detailed example problems throughout the text, which help drive home the concepts, and there are many problems at the end of each chapter (without solutions). It looks like the book is designed primarily to be a textbook for undergraduate thermodynamics classes, but I bought it for self study and found it very readable and enjoyable.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All thermal physics and engineering should start here, June 15, 2006

By 

Humberto Mejia "Still alive and kicking" (Perth, Australia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Dynamics of Heat (Hardcover)

As mechanical engineer who had to struggle through all the thermos and the like, all I can say that I learned what it is all about after reading this book some years after my graduation (in my real education period).

Whenever in doubt this is my reference.