Thermal physics

Clear and reader-friendly, this is an ideal textbook for students seeking an introduction to thermal physics.

Written by an experienced teacher and extensively class-tested, Thermal Physics provides a comprehensive grounding in thermodynamics, statistical mechanics, and kinetic theory.

A key feature of this text is its readily accessible introductory chapters, which begin with a review of fundamental ideas.

Entropy, conceived microscopically and statistically, and the Second Law of Thermodynamics are introduced early in the book.

Throughout, topics are built on a conceptual foundation of four linked elements: entropy and the Second Law, the canonical probability distribution, the partition function, and the chemical potential.

As well as providing a solid preparation in the basics of the subject, the text goes on to explain exciting recent developments such as Bose-Einstein condensation and critical phenomena.

Key equations are highlighted throughout, and each chapter contains a summary of essential ideas and an extensive set of problems of varying degrees of difficulty.

A free solutions manual is available for instructors (ISBN 0521 658608). Thermal Physics is suitable for both undergraduates and graduates in physics and astronomy.