The laws of thermodynamics are amongst the most assured and wide-ranging of all scientific laws. They do not pretend to explain any observation in molecular terms but, by showing the necessary relationships between different physical properties, they reduce otherwise disconnected results to compact order, and predict new effects. This classic title, first published in 1957, is a systematic exposition of principles, with examples of applications, especially to changes of places and the conditions for stability. In all this entropy is a key concept.
Solid state physics is the branch of physics that is primarily devoted to the study of matter in its solid phase, especially at the atomic level. This prestigious serial presents timely and state-of-the-art reviews pertaining to all aspects of solid state physics. - Continuation of prestigious serial - Covers cutting edge research and topics in solid state physics
This book will help readers understand thermodynamic properties caused by magnetic fields. Providing a concise review of time independent magnetic fields, it goes on to discuss the thermodynamic properties of magnetizing materials of different shapes, and finally, the equilibrium properties of superconductors of different shapes and also of different sizes. Chapters are accompanied by problems illustrating the applications of the principles to optimize and enhance understanding. This book will be of interest to advanced undergraduates, graduate students, and researchers specializing in thermodynamics, solid state physics, magnetism, and superconductivity. Features: The first book to provide comprehensive coverage of thermodynamics in magnetic fields, only previously available, in part, in journal articles Chapters include problems and worked solutions demonstrating real questions in contemporary superconductivity, such as properties of vortex matter
Focuses on the field of solid-state physics - also referred to as condensed matter physics - which grew to maturity between 1920 and 1960. The history of some exciting developments is told here in an easy-to-follow text, accessible to general readers, while maintaining standards of high scholarship.
This book is a self-contained introduction to the theory of atomic motion in proteins and nucleic acids. An understanding of such motion is essential because it plays a crucially important role in biological activity. The authors, both of whom are well known for their work in this field, describe in detail the major theoretical methods that are likely to be useful in the computer-aided design of drugs, enzymes and other molecules. A variety of theoretical and experimental studies is described and these are critically analyzed to provide a comprehensive picture of dynamic aspects of biomolecular structure and function. The book will be of interest to graduate students and research workers in structural biochemistry (X-ray diffraction and NMR), theoretical chemistry (liquids and polymers), biophysics, enzymology, molecular biology, pharmaceutical chemistry, genetic engineering and biotechnology.
Beginning with basic principles, this advanced text gives a complete treatment of deformation and flow of earth materials from both the continuum mechanics and the microphysical viewpoints. It covers the role and consequences of rheological processes in geophysics and geodynamics in a quantitative and authoritative manner. The second edition of this successful text: provides the only unified treatment of the rheology of the Earth at this level, making it useful to students and researchers alike; includes discussions of seismology, mantle convection and plate tectonics; is completely up to date, providing a much needed account of thermal and mechanical processes in geodynamics.
A groundbreaking text and reference book on twenty-first-century classical physics and its applications This first-year graduate-level text and reference book covers the fundamental concepts and twenty-first-century applications of six major areas of classical physics that every masters- or PhD-level physicist should be exposed to, but often isn't: statistical physics, optics (waves of all sorts), elastodynamics, fluid mechanics, plasma physics, and special and general relativity and cosmology. Growing out of a full-year course that the eminent researchers Kip Thorne and Roger Blandford taught at Caltech for almost three decades, this book is designed to broaden the training of physicists. Its six main topical sections are also designed so they can be used in separate courses, and the book provides an invaluable reference for researchers. Presents all the major fields of classical physics except three prerequisites: classical mechanics, electromagnetism, and elementary thermodynamics Elucidates the interconnections between diverse fields and explains their shared concepts and tools Focuses on fundamental concepts and modern, real-world applications Takes applications from fundamental, experimental, and applied physics; astrophysics and cosmology; geophysics, oceanography, and meteorology; biophysics and chemical physics; engineering and optical science and technology; and information science and technology Emphasizes the quantum roots of classical physics and how to use quantum techniques to elucidate classical concepts or simplify classical calculations Features hundreds of color figures, some five hundred exercises, extensive cross-references, and a detailed index An online illustration package is available