Thermodynamics (Dover Books on Physics)

A great physicist stands at a higher position than others in teaching. I studied thermodynamics from many other authors, and some of them are also really good. Nevertheless, Fermi has extraordinary clarity and he always explains why we should introduce something very convincingly. For example, do you feel uncomfortable when you first study thermodynamics and you have to touch the Carnot cycle? Why we need to study the "thermo-engine" if, say, you will not touch anything on mechanical engineering or a refrigerator? I felt uncomfortable before, since I study this subject only for the sake of condensed matter physics and some chemistry disciplines. However, Fermi first states the equivalence between heat and work, then he argued that it is easy to transform work into heat, because we can do friction!! Then a question arises NATURALLY how we can inversely transform heat into work. Even if one do not want to do any engineering about thermo-engine, he needs to think of this NATURAL question seriously. The problem is then, we do not have many ideas, the only good one at hand, is some reversible cycle to release net work, and then I feel motivated to study the Carnot cycle. This is great. More importantly, the EASE to transform work into heat and the DIFFICULTY to transform heat into work is a core aspect of Second Law, which I never thought about before. Another example, in the First Law, Fermi writes in a way very much like a realy physicist. He does not force the reader to accept some argument, but he let the reader to estimate the consequence. You either prefer this argument, or you may question the energy conservation law. (Physicists think in this way, for example, N. Bohr used to want to abandon the energy conservation law in beta decay, but he was wrong in that) Such way of thinking and writing attract me very much. Anyway, Fermi is Fermi and his small book on thermodynamics is excellent.

I am a recently retired electrical engineer. One goal I have had for retirement is to try to become knowledgable about energy, on account of it being in my view the most crucial technical issue that will determine the well-being or lack thereof of mankind in the coming years. As I have read various articles and books on contemporary energy topics, it dawned on me that I need to get a better grounding in thermodynamics and chemistry. I had one course in thermodynamics in school, but, as an EE, I think I just learned it well enough to pass the tests without understanding it in depth. There is an excellent book on renewable energy called "Fundamentals of Renewable Energy Processes" that covers the gamut of energy alternatives, and is geared toward someone with a science/engineering background, as compared to the many books on the topic of energy that are written at a layman's level. There is some good material in the early chapters of that book on thermodynamics and heat engines. However, I felt like I should get a few additional books on thermodynamics to make sure I have a good grasp of the fundamentals. Fermi's book has proved to be very useful in that regard. I have only gone through the chapters on the 1st & second laws and entropy, which I think may be all I need to know for now. I was concerned that a book by Fermi might be over my head. To my delight, I found that is not the case. For me, the level of difficulty was just right- he does not cut corners, but it is at a level where I think most undergraduate engineering students would be able to grasp it without tremendous agony. But, although it is not overly abstract, Fermi approaches the subject from a physicist's perspective, which is: Whatever concept he is covering, he doesn't pull it out of a hat, he explains where it comes from. I believe everything I ever did in my engineering career that was of substance was in an area where I had a decent grasp of the origins of the formulas and concepts I was working with. Fermi's book is the most valuable tool I have found to get such a grounding in the basic laws of thermodynamics. I have only read through the chapter on entropy- I'm not sure whether I will need the rest of the material, but I will probably discover before too long that the answer is yes. I now feel better prepared to read up on practical heat engines. I believe it will be easier to learn such material and I will understand it better on account of having gotten the fundamentals from Fermi's book.

First published in 1937, this book is a masterful treatment by a master physicist. Weighing in at just over 150 pages, it manages to cover all the really essential topics in this subject. Furthermore there are a few excellent examples that nicely illustrate the power of thermodynamic methods. The treatment and use of free energy are notable high points in this work. Sadly, this book is probably still not appropriate for readers who have no knowledge of thermodynamics or the physics of heat more generally, but it would make an ideal second book on the subject. However, The Feynman Lectures are enough to make this book accessible. The chapter titles give a good idea of the contents: 1) Thermodynamic Systems 2) The First Law of Thermodynamics 3) The Second Law of Thermodynamics 4) The Entropy 5) Thermodynamic Potentials 6) Gaseous Reactions 7) Thermodynamics of Dilute Solutions 8) The Entropy Constant

I took a thermodynamics course a few years ago and am reading this book now to brush up on the subject. I am currently half way through the book. This text is succinct with few examples which I personally enjoy since I can read the entire book fairly quickly. It is well written and hits all the major concepts. Fermi does a nice job of giving interpretations to formulas where appropriate and provides proofs and derivations. This is exactly what I was looking for. The text is excellent as a brush-up text. However, if you are looking for an introductory text, you would be better off buying a larger text which includes more discussion and provides more examples. Also, this particular book has many minor typos. It is never a problem to catch them almost immediately but it is a bit distracting.

It has been easy to read and follow along the examples. One needs is the common STEM mathematics, classical physics concepts, and curiosity. Very illustrative for an Electrical Engineer, it is simple to relate the common electrical expressions to the short but important connection to electrical phenomenon as described in the book. It is clear and concise for the research oriented that needs either a jump start or a reminder on the topic. The reader would benefit from more definite solved examples through each of the chapters. The concepts are clear and thoroughly explained.

Thermodynamics is hard. Full stop. Whoever says it isn't is fooling themselves. Fermi had trouble (making it a real subject), Feynman had trouble, even Einstein largely avoided the questions of thermodynamics. But Fermi's long road to inventing the terms we still use when describing thermodynamic states is what makes this book so good. This text makes clear the small connections between everything in thermodynamics. Normally in introductory courses, and even in more advanced ones, thermodynamics is treated as a combination of various equations that seemingly come out of nowhere, or with limited and often worse explanations (entropy is disorder—what does that mean? This book will tell you). Fermi makes clear that the equations of thermodynamics are the key to physics. They are its heart. And understanding the pieces of thermodynamics unlocks an understanding of the world that only a master like Fermi can provide.

This slim volume is based on a course of lectures given by Fermi at Columbia University, New York, in the summer of 1936. The intended audience for this book is clearly the science undergraduate, but given the age of this text, one wonders whether it is more of historical interest than a course book for the modern student. Fermi's treatment of the fundamentals in the first four chapters - thermodynamic systems, the first law, the second law, and entropy - is attractive in its clarity. He takes his time, and is careful not to lose the reader as he elaborates the concepts. Given the timeless nature of these topics, this part of the book does not suffer on account of its age. Regarding the subjects presented in the next three chapters - thermodynamic potentials, gaseous reactions and the thermodynamics of dilute solutions - my view is that today's student would be better advised to study a more contemporary text. Important equations, such as the Gibbs-Helmoltz equations, are not mentioned here, and some of the nomenclature and symbols are outdated, which is unlikely to help the student when cross-referencing to contemporary texts and class notes. The final chapter is devoted to the third law and the entropy constant. It is evident from the book that Fermi has a liking for theorems and proofs. The Clapeyron equation, for example, is proved in two different ways for no apparent reason other than to show that it can be done, and his derivation of the phase rule extends over six pages. If you're a fan of such rigor, there is much for you to enjoy here. Overall, I would say that Fermi's book has probably passed its time as a course text for the modern student of thermodynamics, but that for the purposes of deepening understanding of the fundamental concepts addressed in the first four chapters, it still has much to recommend it.

I bought this book because I needed a textbook on thermodynamics and because it was written by a famous physicist and because it covers the subject in only 155 pages. Also the price is right.