Understanding Energy: Energy, Entropy and Thermodynamics for Everyman

By R. Stephen Berry

Book Overview

This book begins with primary concepts of atomic and molecular structure and of how atoms, molecules and bulk matter store and exchange energy. In the next stage, the macroscopic properties of energy... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 981020342X
• ISBN13: 9789810203429
• Release Date: October 1991
• Publisher: World Scientific Publishing Company
• Length: 232 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.

Customer Reviews

A Great Extra Reading on Thermodynamics

Although this book is purposefully written for the undergraduate students whose majors are not science and engineering, it is a little bit more advanced for non-technical students to comfortably read and understand and get a full appreciation of the subject matter. As a professional researcher, I know that several concepts and ideas in thermodynamics are quite difficult to understand, even for technical students. For a true beginner, I would suggest 'Engines, Energy, and Entropy: A Thermodynamics Primer' by John B. Fenn which is more fundamental, easier, and fun to read. In addition, a vintage like 'The Concept of Energy Simply Explained' by Morton Mott-Smith is also a joy to read. However, the comprehensiveness of Professor Berry's work, which covers classical mechanics, statistical physics, and quantum mechanics (at the very fundamental level), makes this volume a great extra reading for those taking thermodynamics course. This volume is also helpful for those who teach themselves thermodynamics and have mastered its fundamental concepts and ideas qualitatively. I would recommend this book to the readers who want to get more breadth and depth in thermodynamics before approaching a more advanced level. Doy Sundarasaradula August 7, 2009