Entropy demystified: the second law of thermodynamics reduced to plain common sense

248 Pages·2007·1.917 MB·English

by  Arieh Ben-Naim

Entropy
Demystified
The Second LawReduced to Plain Common Sense
TThhiiss ppaaggee iinntteennttiioonnaallllyy lleefftt bbllaannkk
Arieh Ben-Naim
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
W
orld Scientific
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Ben-Naim, arieh, 1934–
Entropy demystified : the second law reduced to plain common sense /
by Arieh Ben-Naim.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN-13 978-981-270-052-0 (hardcover) -- ISBN-13 978-981-270-055-1 (pbk.)
1. Entropy. 2. Second law of thermodynamics. I. Title.
QC318.E57 B46 2007
536'.73--dc22
2007011845
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
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Copyright © 2007 by World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd.
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This book is dedicated to
Ludwig Boltzmann
Picturetakenbytheauthor,inVienna,September1978.
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Preface
Ever since I heard the word “entropy” for the first time, I was
fascinated with its mysterious nature. I vividly recall my first
encounter with entropy and with the Second Law of Thermo-
dynamics.Itwasmorethanfortyyearsago.Irememberthehall,
the lecturer, even the place where I sat; in the first row, facing
the podium where the lecturer stood.
The lecturer was explaining Carnot’s cycle, the efficiency
of heat engines, the various formulations of the Second Law
and finally introducing the intriguing and mysterious quan-
tity, named Entropy. I was puzzled and bewildered. Until that
moment, the lecturer had been discussing concepts that were
familiar to us; heat, work, energy and temperature. Suddenly, a
completely new word, never heard before and carrying a com-
pletelynewconcept,wasbeingintroduced.Iwaitedpatientlyto
ask something, though I was not sure what the question would
be. What is this thing called entropy and why does it always
increase?Isitsomethingwecansee,touchorfeelwithanyofour
senses? Upon finishing her exposition, the lecturer interjected,
“If you do not understand the Second Law, do not be discour-
aged. You are in good company. You will not be able to under-
standitatthisstage,butyouwillunderstanditwhenyoustudy
statistical thermodynamics next year.” With these concluding
ix