Entropy for Biologists

An Introduction to Thermodynamics

1st Edition - January 1, 1970
Author: Harold J. Morowitz
Language: English
eBook ISBN:
9 7 8 - 1 - 4 8 3 2 - 6 3 1 6 - 8

Entropy for Biologists: An Introduction to Thermodynamics is an introductory book for people in the life sciences who wish to master the concepts of thermal physics without being… Read more

Purchase options

LIMITED OFFER

Save 50% on book bundles

Immediately download your ebook while waiting for your print delivery. No promo code is needed.

Institutional subscription on ScienceDirect

Request a sales quote

Entropy for Biologists: An Introduction to Thermodynamics is an introductory book for people in the life sciences who wish to master the concepts of thermal physics without being forced to a degree and rate of symbol manipulation which is foreign to their patterns of thought. The book opens with a chapter on temperature, followed by separate chapters that discuss the concepts of energy, kinetic theory, total energy, the second law of thermodynamics, entropy, and probability and information theory. Subsequent chapters deal with statistical mechanics and its relation to thermodynamics, free-energy functions, applications of the Gibbs free energy and the Gibbs chemical potential, and measurement in thermal physics. The book is primarily directed at those graduate and advanced undergraduate students of biology and biochemistry who wish to develop a sense of confidence about their understanding of the thermal physics which will be useful in pursuing their work. It may also prove useful to professionals who wish to bolster their knowledge in this area.

PrefaceI. Temperature A. Introduction B. Physiological Temperature C. Empirical Thermometers D. Gas-Law Thermometers ProblemsII. Energy A. Mechanical Energy B. Conservation of Energy C. Thermal Energy ProblemsIII. Introduction to Kinetic Theory ProblemsIV. Total Energy A. The Measurability of Energy B. The First Law of Thermodynamics ProblemsV. The Second Law of Thermodynamics A. Heat Engines and Refrigerators B. Statements of the Second Law C. Carnot Cycles D. Carnot Theorems E. The Thermodynamic Temperature Scale ProblemsVI. The Entropy Function A. State Functions B. Integrals of dQ C. Properties of the Entropy Function D. The Measurability of Entropy E. The Third Law of Thermodynamics F. Entropy and Chemical Reactions ProblemsVII. Probability and Information A. Probability B. Information Theory ProblemsVIII. Introduction to Statistical Mechanics A. The Statistical Point of View B. The Quantum Mechanical Description of Systems C. The Ensemble Approach D. The Most Probable Distribution E. The Maxwell-Boltzmann Distribution ProblemsIX. The Relation between Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics A. Equivalent Formulations B. The Partition Function C. Helmholtz Free Energy D. Classical Statistical Mechanics E. Velocity Distribution Function F. Internal Degrees of Freedom ProblemsΧ. Entropy, Information, and Energy A. Information and Entropy Β. Maxwell's Demon ProblemsXI. Free-Energy Functions A. Gibbs Free Energy B. Helmholtz Free Energy C. Generalized Energy Function D. Enthalpy and Standard States E. The Euler Equation F. Activity G. The Use of Alternate Methods ProblemsXII. Thermal Energy A. Order and Disorder B. Diffusion C. Brownian Motion ProblemsXIII. Applications of the Gibbs Free Energy and the Gibbs Chemical Potential A. Electrochemistry B. Surface Chemistry C. The Phase Rule D. Osmotic Pressure ProblemsXIV. Measurement in Thermal PhysicsXV. Entropy and BiologyAppendix I. Conservation of Mechanical Energy: General TreatmentAppendix II. The Proof of the Equivalence of the Perfect-Gas Temperature Scale and the Absolute Thermodynamic Temperature ScaleAppendix III. Entropy of a Perfect GasAppendix IV. Stirling's ApproximationAppendix V. Evaluation of the Partition Function of a Perfect GasIndex