THERMODYNAMICS AND INTRODUCTORY STATISTICAL

Thermodynamics is concerned with the macroscopic properties of matter. Statistical mechanics, on the other hand, relates and interprets the properties of a macroscopic system in terms of its microscopic units. 'Thermodynamics and introductory statistical mechanics' covers the necessary mathematical tools and computational techniques for understanding both, first providing a separate overview of each and then illustrating and exploring the connections between the two. Placing equal emphasis on fundamentals and applications, this text covers - thermodynamics basic concepts and definitions, laws, general conditions for equilibrium and stability, phase and chemical equilibria; introductory statistical mechanics principles, thermodynamic connection, molecular partition function, statistical mechanical applications; mathematical techniques for highlighting exact and inexact differentials, partial derivatives, Caratheodory's theorem, Legendre transformation, and combinatory analysis.