Founders of Thermodynamics

Renuka Rai (UIET) THERMODYNAMICS 1st September , 2018 2 / 20

The four laws that drive the universe

• Classical thermodynamics ... is the only physical theory of universal

content which I am convinced ... will never be overthrown.
Albert Einstein
• The law that entropy increases “the Second Law of
Thermodynamics” holds, I think, the supreme position among the
laws of Nature.
Sir Arthur Stanley Eddington

Renuka Rai (UIET) THERMODYNAMICS 1st September , 2018 3 / 20

Renuka Rai (UIET) THERMODYNAMICS 1st September , 2018 4 / 20
Outline of the talk

• Microscopic vs Macroscopic description of a system

• Scope of Thermodynamics
• Different Approaches
• Laws of Thermodynamics
• Concept of Entropy
• Criteria for Spontaneity
• Motivation for Introducing New Energy Functions
• Reversible and Irreversible Systems
• Why bother about Reversibile Processes?
• Irreversibility and Nonequilibrium Thermodynamics
• Concluding Remarks

Renuka Rai (UIET) THERMODYNAMICS 1st September , 2018 5 / 20

Microscopic vs Macroscopic description of a system

Renuka Rai (UIET) THERMODYNAMICS 1st September , 2018 6 / 20

Scope

• A theory is the more impressive the greater the simplicity of its

premises is, the more different kinds of things it relates, and the
more extended is its area of applicability. Therefore the deep
impression which classical thermodynamics made upon me. It is the
only physical theory of universal content concerning which I am
convinced that within the framework of the applicability of its basic
concepts, it will never be overthrown. — Albert Einstein
• The history of thermodynamics is a story of people and concepts.
The cast of characters is large. At least ten scientists played major
roles in creating thermodynamics, and their work spanned more than
a century. The list of concepts, on the other hand, is surprisingly
small; there are just three leading concepts in thermodynamics:
energy, entropy, and absolute temperature. — William H. Cropper

Renuka Rai (UIET) THERMODYNAMICS 1st September , 2018 7 / 20

Various Approaches

• Engineering Thermodynamics
• Statistical Thermodynamics
• Chemical Thermodynamics
• Biological Thermodynamics
• Axiomatic Approach
• Information Theoretic Approach

Renuka Rai (UIET) THERMODYNAMICS 1st September , 2018 8 / 20

Applied fields
• Atmospheric thermodynamics
• Biological thermodynamics
• Black hole thermodynamics
• Chemical thermodynamics
• Classical thermodynamics
• Equilibrium thermodynamics
• Industrial ecology (re: Exergy)
• Maximum entropy thermodynamics
• Non-equilibrium thermodynamics
• Philosophy of thermal and statistical physics
• Psychrometrics
• Quantum thermodynamics
• Statistical thermodynamics
• Thermoeconomics
Renuka Rai (UIET) THERMODYNAMICS 1st September , 2018 9 / 20
Four Law of Thermodynamics

• Zeroth law: If two thermodynamic systems are each in thermal

equilibrium with a third, then they are in thermal equilibrium with
each other.
• First Law: Energy can be changed from one form to another, but it
cannot be created or destroyed.
• Second Law: The entropy of an isolated system not in equilibrium
will tend to increase over time, approaching a maximum value at
equilibrium.
• Third law: As temperature approaches absolute zero, the entropy of
a system approaches a constant minimum.

Renuka Rai (UIET) THERMODYNAMICS 1st September , 2018 10 / 20