ASHRAE 2004 HVAC Handbook

This textbook is intended for use in undergraduate courses in thermodynamics and statistical mechanics, at the sophomore through senior level. Its notable features include: A balanced treatment of classical thermodynamics and statistical mechanics. Both the macroscopic and microscopic viewpoints have their advantages, so I've tried to present and use both, without giving undue emphasis to either. A clear story-line. Fundamentals come first, then thermodynamics applications, then statistical mechanics applications. Each chapter introduces one or two powerful tools and then applies these tools to a variety of phenomena. This organizational plan highlights the most important principles, and gives readers and instructors a great deal of flexibility in choosing what topics to cover. Informal writing style. I'd rather talk to you directly than pontificate in the passive voice. Minimal prerequisites. Before reading this book you should have taken a calculus-based introductory physics course, not necessarily including thermodynamics. A concurrent course in multivariable calculus is recommended but not absolutely necessary. An emphasis on applications. In selecting material I've tried to emphasize what is immediately and obviously applicable to the real world. The book is full of applications to condensed matter physics, astrophysics, chemistry, earth science, engineering, and everyday life. It's not just for physics majors. Short enough for a one-semester course. Although the book contains plenty of advanced material for a longer course (especially in the problems), you can cover all the fundamentals and most of the applications in a three-hour, one-semester course. "Thermal physics deals with collections of large numbers of particles--typically 1023 or so. Examples include the air in a balloon, the water in a lake, the electrons in a chunk of metal, and the photons given off by the sun. We can't possibly follow every detail of the motions of so many particles. So in thermal physics we assume that these motions are random, and we use the laws of probability to predict how the material as a whole ought to behave. Alternatively, we can measure the bulk properties of a material, and from these infer something about the particles it is made of. This book will give you a working understanding of thermal physics, assuming that you have already studied introductory physics and calculus. You will learn to apply the general laws of energy and entropy to engines, refrigerators, chemical reactions, phase transformations, and mixtures. You will also learn to use basic quantum physics and powerful statistical methods to predict in detail how temperature affects molecular speeds, vibrations of solids, electrical and magnetic behaviors, emission of light, and exotic low-temperature phenomena. The problems and worked examples explore applications not just within physics but also to engineering, chemistry, biology, geology, atmospheric science, astrophysics, cosmology, and everyday life"--Publisher's description Thermal physics deals with collections of large numbers of particles - typically 10 to the 23rd power or so. Examples include the air in a balloon, the water in a lake, the electrons in a chunk of metal, and the photons given off by the sun. We can't possibly follow every detail of the motions of so many particles. So in thermal physics we assume that these motions are random, and we use the laws of probability to predict how the material as a whole ought to behave. Alternatively, we can measure the bulk properties of a material, and from these infer something about the particles it is made of. This book will give you a working understanding of thermal physics, assuming that you have already studied introductory physics and calculus. You will learn to apply the general laws of energy and entropy to engines, refrigerators, chemical reactions, phase transformations, and mixtures. You will also learn to use basic quantum physics and powerful statistical methods to predict in detail how temperature affects molecular speeds, vibrations of solids, electrical and magnetic behaviors, emission of light, and exotic low-temperature phenomena. The problems and worked examples explore applications not just within physics but also to engineering, chemistry, biology, geology, atmospheric science, astrophysics, cosmology, and everyday life. Title Pages Preface Energy in Thermal Physics The Second Law Interactions and Implications Engines and Refrigerators Free Energy and Chemical Thermodynamics Boltzmann Statistics Quantum Statistics Systems of Interacting Particles A Elements of Quantum Mechanics B Mathematical Results Suggested Reading Reference Data Index This is a textbook for the standard undergraduate-level course in thermal physics. The book explores applications to engineering, chemistry, biology, geology, atmospheric science, astrophysics, cosmology, and everyday life.