Product Description

An understanding of thermal physics is crucial to much of modern physics, chemistry and engineering. This book provides a modern introduction to the main principles that are foundational to thermal physics, thermodynamics and statistical mechanics. The key concepts are carefully presented in a clear way, and new ideas are illustrated with copious worked examples as well as a description of the historical background to their discovery. Applications are presented to subjects as diverse as stellar astrophysics, information and communication theory, condensed matter physics and climate change. Each chapter concludes with detailed exercises. The second edition of this popular textbook maintains the structure and lively style of the first edition but extends its coverage of thermodynamics and statistical mechanics to include several new topics, including osmosis, diffusion problems, Bayes theorem, radiative transfer, the Ising model and Monte Carlo methods. New examples and exercises have been added throughout.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #214367 in Books
• Published on: 2009-10-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 516 pages

About the Author
Professor Stephen J. Blundell
Department of Physics
Clarendon Laboratory
University of Oxford
Parks Road
Oxford OX1 3PU

Customer Reviews

Clear, precise and entertaining
An excellent introduction to thermal physics. Very little is assumed, and explanations in the appendices account for most of the mathematical complications. Thoroughly covers all major topics of interest in the field, with alternative derivations provided for many topics to further aid understanding. Additional chapters expand on the latest research. Little diversions into areas such as Information entropy, and short biographies for most of the prominent figures help sustain interest. The tone is frequently humorous, but this does not detract from the thrust of the argument. Highly recommended.