Understanding Energy: Energy, Entropy And Thermodynamics For Everyman

"Here is a writer with enthusiasm for thermodynamics ... this is an interesting, useful and a reasonably priced introduction to what we know about energy and I am glad to recommend it to all newcomers to the subject." P T Landsberg Contemporary Physics

• Force and work; kinetic and potential energy; the equation of state and the representation of state changes and work; dilemmas of energy and the microstructure of matter; wave properties of matter; waves, energy levels and densities of states; molecules and chemical bonds - energy storage in molecules; energy and the first law of thermodynamics; energy relations in chemical process - combustion; microstates, macrostates and Zermolo's paradox; a microscopic view of entropy and the second law of thermodynamics; the thermal definition of entropy and macroscopic statement of the second law of thermodynamics; the Carnot engine and efficiency; free energies and criteria of merit; availability and criteria of merit.