Introduction to Thermodynamics - Softcover

Sherwin, K.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0412476401 ISBN 13: 9780412476402

Publisher: Springer, 1993

Synopsis

As the title implies, this book provides an introduction to thermodynamics for students on degree and HND courses in engineering. These courses are placing increased emphasis on business, design, management, and manufacture. As a consequence, the direct class-time for thermodynamics is being reduced and students are encouraged to self learn. This book has been written with this in mind. The text is brief and to the point, with a minimum of mathematical content. Each chapter defines a list of aims and concludes with a short summary. The summary provides an overview of the key words, phrases and equations introduced within the chapter. It is recognized that students see thermodynamics as a problem-solving activity and this is reflected by the emphasis on the modelling of situations. As a guide to problem solving, worked examples are included throughout the book. In addition, students are encouraged to work through the problems at the end of each chapter, for which outline solutions are provided. There is a certain timelessness about thermodynamics because the funda­ mentals do not change. However, there is currently some debate over which sign convention should apply to work entering, or leaving, a thermodynamic system. I have retained the traditional convention of work out of a system being positive. This fits in with the concept of a heat engine as a device that takes in heat and, as a result, produces positive work.

About this title

Review

`...concise and readable...nicely produced with clear diagrams and worked examples throughout the text.'
Times Higher Educational Supplement

Synopsis

Many students consider thermodynamics to be a difficult subject because of the excessively mathematical treatment found in many textbooks. In this book, the author introduces a new approach to the subject in which the supporting mathematics is kept to a minimum and thermodynamic situations and devices are described in terms of concepts that can be easily visualized. The book is designed for the first year of the thermodynamics syllabus of an undergraduate programme in mechanical engineering. It is written with the express aim of allowing students to self-learn the material and emphasis is placed on simplifying the mathematics and on the modelling of real engineering situations. It is recognized that thermodynamics is a problem-solving activity and worked examples are included throughout the book. In addition, problems are provided at the end of each chapter and these are followed by outline solutions. Each chapter opens with a list of the learning aims and concludes with a summary of key words and key equations. The concept of entropy, which is often found difficult by students, is introduced at an early stage in a straightforward manner.

Edition details

• Publisher: Springer
• Publication date: 1993
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0412476401
• ISBN 13: 9780412476402
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 320