Methods of Thermodynamics (Dover Books on Physics) [Paperback]

Howard Reiss (Author), Physics (Author)

Book Description

Series: Dover Books on Physics | Publication Date: January 15, 1997

Unlike most general books, this outstanding text focuses on the physical technique of thermodynamics, typical problem areas of understanding, and significance and use of thermodynamic potential. Mathematical apparatus, first law of thermodynamics, second law and entropy, ideal substances, some useful formulas, many other topics are covered. 1965 edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 238 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (January 15, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486694453
• ISBN-13: 978-0486694450
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #993,427 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best advanced introduction to the subject, March 3, 2003

By 

Roy Wilsker (Needham, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Methods of Thermodynamics (Dover Books on Physics) (Paperback)

For someone who really wants to understand classical thermodynamics, this book by Howard Reiss can't be beat. Reiss faces the most difficult questions in the subject head on and answers them with thoughtful clarity.

He avoids the common errors that almost all texts repeat in their treatments of entropy and covers both the Kelvin/Clausius and the Caratheodory versions of the subject.

He covers thermodynamic potentials in a very consistent manner that makes them much more understandable.

This is the text I always come back to when I need to review a topic or sharpen my thinking in this area.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Detailed Treatment at an Intermediate Level, January 22, 2010

By 

Jason Dowd "a reader" (Lost in Thought) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Methods of Thermodynamics (Dover Books on Physics) (Paperback)

This is an excellent book for a student of thermodynamics to read after having digested the contents of several more elementary works. It revolves around the careful use of thermodynamic potentials with Chapter 8 being the key chapter. The earlier chapters build to this chapter, and the later ones resolve from it. The focus is purely on equilibrium thermodynamics and the approach is somewhat unorthodox as the author makes heavy use of the concept of constraint in thermodynamical systems. Indeed this concept is introduced in Chapter 1 and slowly developed until Chapter 8 where its connection to thermodynamic potentials is fully elucidated.

Chapter 2 reviews some of the key mathematical machinery from multivariable calculus that plays a central role in all thermodynamic derivations.

Chapter 3 covers the first law. Chapter 4 covers the second law. Chapter 5 is on ideal substances and the definition and treatment of ideal solutions is the clearest I've read anywhere.

Chapters 7 and 8 form the center of this book, and both are dedicated to features of equilibrium. During Chapter 8 the author makes it clear that part of his motivation for writing this book was the slipshod treatment and use of thermodynamic potentials he has seen by his peers both in textbooks and in research journals. Needless to say, his treatment is rather careful although ultimately still not rigorous.

The rest of the book is dedicated to examples of the "proper" use of thermodynamic potentials when applied to a variety of situations commonly encountered in thermodynamics, and it is in these chapters that the real payoff of studying this book is realized. Situations treated include phase equilibria, osmosis, surface effects, gravitational and centrifugal fields, elastic systems, and stability of equilibria. I found the chapter on surface effects particularly valuable as this is an important subject which is seldom or poorly treated in other works. Many of the other topics here are very standard, but the fresh perspective and consistent approach are appealing.

The book ends with a chapter on third law.

The author takes a very pure macroscopic approach to thermodynamics, and references to the microscopic are few and far between. I like that in a thermodynamics book. Furthermore the exposition is of high quality throughout.

I had only a few misgivings about this book. The first is that the typeface used is quite small throughout. I'd guess 8 point. The second is that for such a careful treatment the author occasionally makes comments that seem poorly thought out such as a comment about friction made on page 10. I also found it odd that in spite of the author stating that he was writing a book on thermodynamics that was chemistry oriented, there are very few examples from chemistry. Finally, there are no exercises.

To finish, I'd like to quote from the preface of this book a paragraph the echoes my own experiences with this subject:

"A first glance at thermodynamics leads to a false impression concering the ease with which it can be mastered. A superficial perusal reveals that the subject does not require great mathematical facility. Certain parts of it may be learned by rote, especially where repetitious techniques are employed. In contrast, the mastery of the related discipline of statistical mechanics requires greater mathematical proficiency, but the subject lends itself more easily to understanding."

Besides being very well said, this quote clearly establishes the audience of this book: someone who has studied both thermodynamics and statistical mechanics to a level where they have developed a degree of comfort with the methods of the former and the conceptual framework of the latter, and has then realized that thermodynamics is more subtle than it seems. And who has also realized that statistical mechanics does not replace thermodynamics. Such a reader will almost surely find this book a helpful next step.

In short, a valuable book for the advancing student.

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent refresher, April 6, 2010

By 

M. Bedard (Austin, TX USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Methods of Thermodynamics (Dover Books on Physics) (Paperback)

Did you already take a thermo class? Then this book is for you. It helps reinforce key concepts without focusing too much on the process and mechanics of doing thermo problems. It's an excellent second-time-through book, showing how powerful thermodynamics can be. Reiss makes thermo seem easy, and I always put the book down feeling a bit smarter for having learned something new.