Entropy for Biologists
An Introduction to Thermodynamics
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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.
Table of Contents
Preface
I. Temperature
A. Introduction
B. Physiological Temperature
C. Empirical Thermometers
D. Gas-Law Thermometers
Problems
II. Energy
A. Mechanical Energy
B. Conservation of Energy
C. Thermal Energy
Problems
III. Introduction to Kinetic Theory
Problems
IV. Total Energy
A. The Measurability of Energy
B. The First Law of Thermodynamics
Problems
V. 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
Problems
VI. 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
Problems
VII. Probability and Information
A. Probability
B. Information Theory
Problems
VIII. 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
Problems
IX. 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
Problems
Χ. Entropy, Information, and Energy
A. Information and Entropy
Β. Maxwell's Demon
Problems
XI. 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
Problems
XII. Thermal Energy
A. Order and Disorder
B. Diffusion
C. Brownian Motion
Problems
XIII. Applications of the Gibbs Free Energy and the Gibbs Chemical Potential
A. Electrochemistry
B. Surface Chemistry
C. The Phase Rule
D. Osmotic Pressure
Problems
XIV. Measurement in Thermal Physics
XV. Entropy and Biology
Appendix I. Conservation of Mechanical Energy: General Treatment
Appendix II. The Proof of the Equivalence of the Perfect-Gas Temperature Scale and the Absolute Thermodynamic Temperature Scale
Appendix III. Entropy of a Perfect Gas
Appendix IV. Stirling's Approximation
Appendix V. Evaluation of the Partition Function of a Perfect Gas
Index
Product details
- No. of pages: 212
- Language: English
- Copyright: © Academic Press 1970
- Published: January 1, 1970
- Imprint: Academic Press
- eBook ISBN: 9781483263168