Suitable for both undergraduates and graduates, this textbook provides an up-to-date, accessible introduction to thermal physics. The material provides a comprehensive understanding of thermodynamics, statistical mechanics, and kinetic theory, and has been extensively tested in the classroom by the author who is an experienced teacher. This book begins with a clear review of fundamental ideas and goes on to construct a conceptual foundation of four linked elements: entropy and the Second Law, the canonical probability distribution, the partition function, and the chemical potential. This foundation is used throughout the book to help explain new topics and exciting recent developments such as Bose-Einstein condensation and critical phenomena. The highlighting of key equations, summaries of essential ideas, and an extensive set of problems of varying degrees of difficulty will allow readers to fully grasp both the basic and current aspects of the subject. A solutions manual is available for instructors. This book is an invaluable textbook for students in physics and astronomy.
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"...an excellent book...Baierlein's writing is exceptionally clear....Every quantity is clearly defined, and discussed when any confusion could arise, whether the concept is simple or complex....Baierlein always backs up the equations with explanations in words, and with examples....The organization of topics seems natural and well thought out....certainly among the best possible choices for use in an undergraduate course." American Journal of Physics
"The book, written in instructive form, shows great experience of the author as a teacher. Many examples of different degrees of difficulty either theoretical, experimental, or based on everyday observations, make the book interesting and readable. The author manages to present the complex ideas of thermal physics in a clear and attractive way." Applied Mechanics Reviews
"...written so that students will receive an empirical, intuitive understanding of thermodynamics processes....The book is well written, uses plenty of descriptive material to establish the basic fundamentals, and is supplemented with useful applications." Choice
"This book is a superb introduction to the key concepts of statistical mechanics, thoroughly modern in approach with current topics emphasized as well as basic principles. Baierlein's characteristic clarity of exposition makes the book ideal for self-study as well as for classroom use." H. Eugene Stanley, Boston University
"I enjoyed reading this tremendously. The author has a personal and thoughtful way of introducing and arranging the material. He has succeeded in making many of the difficult concepts more intuitive and more within the grasp of students who have very little background in thermodynamics and thermal physics. In the hands of a skilled teacher, this book would serve very well in its intended role." Journal of Statistical Physics
"...very well written and a pleasure to read...what makes this text stand out is the quality, clarity, and conciseness of the writing." Physics Today
"The book, written in instructive form, shows great experience of the author as a teacher. Many examples of different degrees of difficulty either theoretical, experimental, or based on everyday observations, make the book interesting and readable. The author manages to present the complex ideas of thermal physics in a clear and attractive way." Applied Mechanics Reviews
"...written so that students will receive an empirical, intuitive understanding of thermodynamics processes....The book is well written, uses plenty of descriptive material to establish the basic fundamentals, and is supplemented with useful applications." Choice
"This book is a superb introduction to the key concepts of statistical mechanics, thoroughly modern in approach with current topics emphasized as well as basic principles. Baierlein's characteristic clarity of exposition makes the book ideal for self-study as well as for classroom use." H. Eugene Stanley, Boston University
"I enjoyed reading this tremendously. The author has a personal and thoughtful way of introducing and arranging the material. He has succeeded in making many of the difficult concepts more intuitive and more within the grasp of students who have very little background in thermodynamics and thermal physics. In the hands of a skilled teacher, this book would serve very well in its intended role." Journal of Statistical Physics
"...very well written and a pleasure to read...what makes this text stand out is the quality, clarity, and conciseness of the writing." Physics Today
Book Description
This textbook provides a clear, instructive and highly readable introduction to thermal physics. Written by an experienced teacher, it provides a comprehensive grounding in thermodynamics, statistical mechanics and kinetic theory and also includes recent developments including Bose-Einstein condensation & critical phenomena. The modular structure allows a flexible approach to teaching and learning. Each chapter contains a summary of essential ideas, key equations are highlighted throughout and many problems of varying degrees of difficulty are included with a solutions manual available for instructors. Suitable for both undergraduates and graduates in physics and astronomy.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent undergraduate text, horrid graduate text!,
By A Customer
This review is from: Thermal Physics (Paperback)
While a nice, non-intimidating introduction to the field with an emphasis on physical insight and "back of the envelope" reasoning, it is NOT suitable as a graduate level text for statistical & thermal physics, contrary to what is stated on the back cover. I would say that if one were to use this and Reif as a combo as an undergraduate, one would get a good picture of the field from both a classic and a well done modern presentation. For graduate studies, by all means look elsewhere. McQuarrie, Kubo, Huang (if need be), heck, digging up the Dover reprints by Hill and Wannier wouldn't be such a bad idea, really.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A brilliant introduction to thermal physics,
By Paul van Kampen (Dublin City University, Ireland) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Thermal Physics (Paperback)
This is by far and away the best book on introductory thermal physics I've read. It is written in plain and clear English and the development of concepts and the required mathematical framework is language-based rather than formula-driven.The first three chapters give a beautifully concise overview of the basic concepts of first-year thermodynamics, with a very clear introduction of the concept of entropy. The highlight of the book is perhaps the development of the chemical potential and the Helmholtz and Gibbs free energies.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best Introduction to Thermal Physics,
By RS (USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Thermal Physics (Paperback)
Baierlein gives a great introduction to thermal physics. He emphasizes the how and why and writes in english, i.e. this book is not a collection of formulas. He does a very good job of explaning statistical mechanics, providing insiteful discussions of the Maxwell-Boltzman, Einstein-Bose, Fermi, and canonical distributions. Great description of the chemical potential. Easy to understand discussion of entropy and multiplicity and also of the partial and exact differentials used in thermal physics. IMHO, it is the best introduction to the topic available. A similar book, but not as well written is "Thermal Physics" by Kittel and Kroemer. Of course if you are looking for a reference on Statistical Mechanics, chock full of mathematics, try Reif, Reichl, or Landau.
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
Suppose you want to fry two eggs, sunny-side up. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
monatomic classical ideal gas, expectation value estimate, canonical probability distribution, slow adiabatic compression, entropy change form, general quantitative definition, dilute classical gas, empirical gas law, spatial energy density, slow adiabatic expansion, typical room conditions, isentropic demagnetization, quantum ideal gas, alternate spins, vaporization curve, fixed external parameters, microscopic kinetic energy, negative absolute temperatures, largest multiplicity, initial macrostate, spin degeneracy factor, entropy per atom, average translational kinetic energy, larger multiplicity, single spinless Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York, Third Law, First Law, Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press, Max Planck, William Thomson, Connecticut Yankee, Willard Gibbs, Chemical Rubber Publishing Company, James Clerk Maxwell, Ralph Baierlein, Rudolf Clausius, Wolfgang Pauli, Albert Einstein, Connecticut River, Lars Onsager, Ludwig Boltzmann, Peter Debye, Physics Today New!
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Suppose you want to fry two eggs, sunny-side up. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
monatomic classical ideal gas, expectation value estimate, canonical probability distribution, slow adiabatic compression, entropy change form, general quantitative definition, dilute classical gas, empirical gas law, spatial energy density, slow adiabatic expansion, typical room conditions, isentropic demagnetization, quantum ideal gas, alternate spins, vaporization curve, fixed external parameters, microscopic kinetic energy, negative absolute temperatures, largest multiplicity, initial macrostate, spin degeneracy factor, entropy per atom, average translational kinetic energy, larger multiplicity, single spinless Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York, Third Law, First Law, Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press, Max Planck, William Thomson, Connecticut Yankee, Willard Gibbs, Chemical Rubber Publishing Company, James Clerk Maxwell, Ralph Baierlein, Rudolf Clausius, Wolfgang Pauli, Albert Einstein, Connecticut River, Lars Onsager, Ludwig Boltzmann, Peter Debye, Physics Today New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 36
books:
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8
books
cite this book:
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- An Introduction to Liquid Helium (Oxford Science Publications) by J. Wilks on page 214, page 286, and page 301
- Elementary Principles in Statistical Mechanics by J. Willard Gibbs on page 93, and page 111
- Lectures on Gas Theory (Dover Books on Physics) by Ludwig Boltzmann on page 247, and Back Matter
- A Survey of Thermodynamics by Martin Bailyn on page 21, and page 46
- A Subtresury of American Humor by E.B. WHITE & KATHERINE WHITE on page 111
See all 36 books this book cites
- Introduction to Surface and Thin Film Processes by John A. Venables in Back Matter
- Theory of High Temperature Superconductivity (Fundamental Theories of Physics) by S. Fujita in Back Matter
- Practical Temperature Measurement by Peter R. N. Childs BSc.(Hons) D.Phil C.Eng F.I.Mech.E. on page 18
- Thermal Physics: Entropy and Free Energies by Joon Chang Lee in Back Matter
- Equilibrium and Non-Equilibrium Statistical Thermodynamics by Michel Le Bellac in Back Matter
See all 8 books citing this book
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