This textbook is an introduction to the Brownian motion of colloids and nano-particles, and the diffusion of molecules. One very appealing aspect of Brownian motion, as this book illustrates, is that the subject connects a broad variety of topics, including thermal physics, hydrodynamics, reaction kinetics, fluctuation phenomena, statistical thermodynamics, osmosis and colloid science. The book is based on a set of lecture notes that the authors used for an undergraduate course at the University of Utrecht, Netherland. It aims to provide more than a simplified qualitative description of the subject, without getting bogged down in difficult mathematics. Each chapter contains exercises, ranging from straightforward ones to more involved problems, addressing instances from (thermal motion in) chemistry, physics and life sciences. Exercises also deal with derivations or calculations that are skipped in the main text. The book offers a treatment of Brownian motion on a level appropriate for bachelor/undergraduate students of physics, chemistry, soft matter and the life sciences. PhD students attending courses and doing research in colloid science or soft matter will also benefit from this book.

A thorough exploration of the atomic structures and properties of the essential engineering interfaces—an invaluable resource for students, teachers, and professionals

The most up-to-date, accessible guide to solid-vapor, solid-liquid, and solid-solid phase transformations, this innovative book contains the only unified treatment of these three central engineering interfaces. Employing a simple nearest-neighbor broken-bond model, Interfaces in Materials focuses on metal alloys in a straightforward approach that can be easily extended to all types of interfaces and materials. Enhanced with nearly 300 illustrations, along with extensive references and suggestions for further reading, this book provides:

• A simple, cohesive approach to understanding the atomic structure and properties of interfaces formed between solid, liquid, and vapor phases
• Self-contained discussions of each interface—allowing separate study of each phase transformation
• A comparative look at the different interfaces, including atomic structure and crystallography; anisotropy, roughening, and melting; interfacial stability and segregation; continuous and ledge growth models; and atomistic modeling
• An analysis of nearest-neighbor broken-bond results against thermodynamic and kinetic descriptions of the interfaces
• Problem sets at the end of each chapter, emphasizing the key concepts detailed in the text

Spanning the fields of chemical, electrical and computer engineering, materials science, solid-state physics, and microscopy, Interfaces in Materials bridges a major gap in the literature of surface and interface science.

The first comprehensive graduate-level introduction to stochastic thermodynamics Stochastic thermodynamics is a well-defined subfield of statistical physics that aims to interpret thermodynamic concepts for systems ranging in size from a few to hundreds of nanometers, the behavior of which is inherently random due to thermal fluctuations. This growing field therefore describes the nonequilibrium dynamics of small systems, such as artificial nanodevices and biological molecular machines, which are of increasing scientific and technological relevance. This textbook provides an up-to-date pedagogical introduction to stochastic thermodynamics, guiding readers from basic concepts in statistical physics, probability theory, and thermodynamics to the most recent developments in the field. Gradually building up to more advanced material, the authors consistently prioritize simplicity and clarity over exhaustiveness and focus on the development of readers' physical insight over mathematical formalism. This approach allows the reader to grow as the book proceeds, helping interested young scientists to enter the field with less effort and to contribute to its ongoing vibrant development. Chapters provide exercises to complement and reinforce learning. Appropriate for graduate students in physics and biophysics, as well as researchers, Stochastic Thermodynamics serves as an excellent initiation to this rapidly evolving field. Emphasizes a pedagogical approach to the subject Highlights connections with the thermodynamics of information Pays special attention to molecular biophysics applications Privileges physical intuition over mathematical formalism Solutions manual available on request for instructors adopting the book in a course

This is the first book dedicated to solar gas turbines, providing fundamental knowledge and state-of-the-art developments in the field. A gas turbine is a heat engine in which a mixture of fuel and air is burned in a chamber that is an integral part of the flow circuit of the working fluid. The burnt gas mixture expands and turns the turbine, which can be connected to a generator for electricity production. Solar gas turbines offer an important alternative to conventional gas turbines driven by non-renewable, polluting fossil fuels such as diesel or natural gas. The book provides a comprehensive overview of the topic as well as numerous illustrations.

Small systems are a very active area of research and development due to improved instrumentation that allows for spatial resolution in the range of sizes from one to 100 nm. In this size range, many physical and chemical properties change, which opens up new approaches to the study of substances and their practical application. This affects both traditional fields of knowledge and many other new fields including physics, chemistry, biology, etc. This book highlights new developments in statistical thermodynamics that answer the most important questions about the specifics of small systems - when one cannot apply equations or traditional thermodynamic models.

Indisputably, this is a modern classic of science. Based on a course of lectures delivered by the author at Columbia University, the text is elementary in treatment and remarkable for its clarity and organization. Although it is assumed that the reader is familiar with the fundamental facts of thermometry and calorimetry, no advanced mathematics beyond calculus is assumed.
Partial contents: thermodynamic systems, the first law of thermodynamics (application, adiabatic transformations), the second law of thermodynamics (Carnot cycle, absolute thermodynamic temperature, thermal engines), the entropy (properties of cycles, entropy of a system whose states can be represented on a (V, p) diagram, Clapeyron and Van der Waals equations), thermodynamic potentials (free energy, thermodynamic potential at constant pressure, the phase rule, thermodynamics of the reversible electric cell), gaseous reactions (chemical equilibria in gases, Van't Hoff reaction box, another proof of the equation of gaseous equilibria, principle of Le Chatelier), the thermodynamics of dilute solutions (osmotic pressure, chemical equilibria in solutions, the distribution of a solute between 2 phases vapor pressure, boiling and freezing points), the entropy constant (Nernst's theorem, thermal ionization of a gas, thermionic effect, etc.).

Physics on Your Feet (2nd Edition) is a significantly expanded collection of physics problems covering the broad range of topics in classical and modern physics that were, or could have been, asked at oral PhD exams at University of California at Berkeley. The questions are easy to formulate, but some of them can only be answered using an outside-of-the box approach. Detailed solutions are provided, from which the reader is guaranteed to learn a lot about the physicists' way of thinking. The book is also packed full of cartoons and dry humor to help take the edge off the stress and anxiety surrounding exams. This is a helpful guide for students preparing for their exams, as well as a resource for university lecturers looking for good instructive problems. No exams are necessary to enjoy the book!

This book represents a journey through the history of science in regards to the concept of time, specifically, the question as to whether it is absolute, relative, or irreversible. The best-known contribution, or at least the most popular one, came from Einstein. He took the illusion that time was universal, a concept dating back, essentially, to Galileo and Newton, and shattered it, both within and without the scientific community. Thermodynamics teaches us that time has a preferential direction, i.e., forward, and is irreversible, as shown by Prigogine and his theories on dissipative structures and complex systems. Time is not only an "external spectator" to what happens, but assiduously takes part in making it happen. The concept of thermodynamics shows us how time is linked with environmental issues, as creator and destroyer. The author explores the relationships of cause and effect and how it can help in measuring the various eras of the planet, as well as understanding the beings that inhabit it. This book will be a valuable read for students, researchers, and interested laypersons alike.

Low Grade Heat Driven Multi-effect Distillation and Desalination describes the development of advanced multi-effect evaporation technologies that are driven by low grade sensible heat, including process waste heat in refineries, heat rejection from diesel generators or microturbines, and solar and geothermal energy. The technologies discussed can be applied to desalination in remote areas, purifying produced water in oil-and-gas industries, and to re-concentrate process liquor in refineries. This book is ideal for researchers, engineering scientists, graduate students, and industrial practitioners working in the desalination, petrochemical, and mineral refining sectors, helping them further understand the technologies and opportunities that relate to their respective industries. For researchers and graduate students, the core enabling ideas in the book will provide insights and open up new horizons in thermal engineering.

Striving to explore the subject in as simple a manner as possible, this book helps readers understand the elusive concept of entropy. Innovative aspects of the book include the construction of statistical entropy from desired properties, the derivation of the entropy of classical systems from purely classical assumptions, and a statistical thermodynamics approach to the ideal Fermi and ideal Bose gases. Derivations are worked through step-by-step and important applications are highlighted in over 20 worked examples. Around 50 end-of-chapter exercises test readers' understanding. The book also features a glossary giving definitions for all essential terms, a time line showing important developments, and list of books for further study. It is an ideal supplement to undergraduate courses in physics, engineering, chemistry and mathematics.

Prof. Newman is considered one of the great chemical engineers of his time. His reputation derives from his mastery of all phases of the subject matter, his clarity of thought, and his ability to reduce complex problems to their essential core elements. He has been teaching undergraduate and graduate core subject courses at the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley), USA, since joining the faculty in 1966. His method is to write out, in long form, everything he expects to convey to his class on a subject on any given day. He has maintained and updated his lecture notes from notepad to computer throughout his career. This book is an exact reproduction of those notes. The book presents concepts needed to define single- and multi-component systems, starting with the Gibbs function. It helps readers derive concepts of entropy and temperature and the development of material properties of pure substances. It acquaints them with applications of thermodynamics, such as cycles, open systems, and phase transitions, and eventually leads them to concepts of multiple-component systems, in particular, chemical and phase equilibria. It clearly presents all concepts that are necessary for engineers.

Computational Modelling of Intelligent Soft Matter: Shape Memory Polymers and Hydrogels covers the multi-physics response of various smart polymer materials, such as temperature-sensitive shape memory polymers and temperature/light/chemo-sensitive hydrogels. Several thermo-chemo-mechanical constitutive models for these smart polymers are outlined, with their real-world applications highlighted. The numerical counterpart of each introduced constitutive model is also presented, thus empowering readers to solve practical problems requiring thermomechanical responses of these materials as well as design and analyze real-world structures made from them.

This second volume covers the mechanics of fluids, the principles of thermodynamics and their applications (without reference to the microscopic structure of systems), and the microscopic interpretation of thermodynamics. It is part of a four-volume textbook, which covers electromagnetism, mechanics, fluids and thermodynamics, and waves and light, is designed to reflect the typical syllabus during the first two years of a calculus-based university physics program. Throughout all four volumes, particular attention is paid to in-depth clarification of conceptual aspects, and to this end the historical roots of the principal concepts are traced. Emphasis is also consistently placed on the experimental basis of the concepts, highlighting the experimental nature of physics. Whenever feasible at the elementary level, concepts relevant to more advanced courses in quantum mechanics and atomic, solid state, nuclear, and particle physics are included. Each chapter begins with an introduction that briefly describes the subjects to be discussed and ends with a summary of the main results. A number of "Questions" are included to help readers check their level of understanding. The textbook offers an ideal resource for physics students, lecturers and, last but not least, all those seeking a deeper understanding of the experimental basics of physics.

This book describes a fundamentally novel approach to understanding the phenomena of nature from the standpoint of classical and relativistic quantum physics, as well as cosmology. Regularities of the living and inanimate worlds, as well as the interaction between the two within each of them are described. It is shown that for every phenomenon (even seemingly supernatural), one can find a scientific interpretation. In the words of Albert Einstein: "The scientific search is a constant race away from magic". Also discussed in this book are how the conditions for the emergence and development of organic life on the Earth were created. Why was the chosen set of approximately 100 global constants that govern our lives presented to us by nature? Are there planets in the Universe where there is also intelligent life? And if so, how can contact be established? These are some questions that are examined in this book.

Sound knowledge of the latest research results in the thermodynamics and design of thermoelectric devices, providing a solid foundation for thermoelectric element and module design in the technical development process and thus serving as an indispensable tool for any application development. The text is aimed mainly at the project developer in the field of thermoelectric technology, both in academia and industry, as well as at graduate and advanced undergraduate students. Some core sections address the specialist in the field of thermoelectric energy conversion, providing detailed discussion of key points with regard to optimization. The international team of authors with experience in thermoelectrics research represents such institutes as EnsiCaen Universite de Paris, JPL, CalTech, and the German Aerospace Center.

This book presents the derivation of the fluctuation theorems with divergent entropy production and their application to fundamental problems in statistical physics. It explores the two basic aspects of the fluctuation theorems: i) Applicability in extreme situations with divergent entropy production, concluding that the fluctuation theorems remain valid under the notion of absolute irreversibility, and ii) utility in the investigation of classical enigmas in the framework of statistical physics, i.e., Gibbs and Loschmidt paradoxes. The book offers readers an overview of the research in fundamental statistical physics. Firstly it briefly but skillfully reviews the modern development of fluctuation theorems to found the key theme of the book. Secondly it concisely discusses historical issues of statistical physics in chronological order, along with the key literature in the field. They help readers easily follow the key developments in the fundamental research of statistical physics.

The book provides design engineers an elemental understanding of the variables that influence pressure drop and heat transfer in plain and micro-fin tubes to thermal systems using liquid single-phase flow in different industrial applications. It also provides design engineers using gas-liquid, two-phase flow in different industrial applications the necessary fundamentals of the two-phase flow variables. The author and his colleagues were the first to determine experimentally the very important relationship between inlet geometry and transition. On the basis of their results, they developed practical and easy to use correlations for the isothermal and non-isothermal friction factor (pressure drop) and heat transfer coefficient (Nusselt number) in the transition region as well as the laminar and turbulent flow regions for different inlet configurations and fin geometry. This work presented herein provides the thermal systems design engineer the necessary design tools. The author further presents a succinct review of the flow patterns, void fraction, pressure drop and non-boiling heat transfer phenomenon and recommends some of the well scrutinized modeling techniques.

Advances in Heat Transfer fills the information gap between regularly scheduled journals and university-level textbooks by providing in-depth review articles over a broader scope than in journals or texts. The articles, which serve as a broad review for experts in the field, will also be of great interest to non-specialists who need to keep up-to-date with the results of the latest research. This serial is essential reading for all mechanical, chemical and industrial engineers working in the field of heat transfer, graduate schools or industry.

Current Topics in Membranes is targeted toward scientists and researchers in biochemistry and molecular and cellular biology, providing the necessary membrane research to assist them in discovering the current state of a particular field and in learning where that field is heading. This volume presents an up to date presentation of current knowledge and problems in the field of thermal receptors. This is a rapidly evolving research area and the book contains important contributions from some of the leaders in the field.

This open access book introduces and explains machine learning (ML) algorithms and techniques developed for statistical inferences on a complex process or system and their applications to simulations of chemically reacting turbulent flows. These two fields, ML and turbulent combustion, have large body of work and knowledge on their own, and this book brings them together and explain the complexities and challenges involved in applying ML techniques to simulate and study reacting flows. This is important as to the world's total primary energy supply (TPES), since more than 90% of this supply is through combustion technologies and the non-negligible effects of combustion on environment. Although alternative technologies based on renewable energies are coming up, their shares for the TPES is are less than 5% currently and one needs a complete paradigm shift to replace combustion sources. Whether this is practical or not is entirely a different question, and an answer to this question depends on the respondent. However, a pragmatic analysis suggests that the combustion share to TPES is likely to be more than 70% even by 2070. Hence, it will be prudent to take advantage of ML techniques to improve combustion sciences and technologies so that efficient and "greener" combustion systems that are friendlier to the environment can be designed. The book covers the current state of the art in these two topics and outlines the challenges involved, merits and drawbacks of using ML for turbulent combustion simulations including avenues which can be explored to overcome the challenges. The required mathematical equations and backgrounds are discussed with ample references for readers to find further detail if they wish. This book is unique since there is not any book with similar coverage of topics, ranging from big data analysis and machine learning algorithm to their applications for combustion science and system design for energy generation.

This is a textbook on thermodynamics of materials for junior/senior undergraduate students and first-year graduate students as well as a reference book for researchers who would like to refresh their understanding of thermodynamics. The textbook employs a plain language to explain the thermodynamic concepts and quantities. It embraces the mathematical beauty and rigor of Gibbs thermodynamics through the fundamental equation of thermodynamics from which all thermodynamic properties of a material can be derived. However, a reader with basic first-year undergraduate calculus skills will be able to get through the book without difficulty. One unique feature of this textbook is the descriptions of the step-by-step procedures for computing all the thermodynamic properties from the fundamental equation of thermodynamics and all the thermodynamic energies from a set of common, experimentally measurable thermodynamic properties, supplemented with ample numerical examples. Another unique feature of this textbook is its emphasis on the concept of chemical potential and its applications to phase equilibria in single component systems and binary solutions, chemical reaction equilibria, and lattice and electronic defects in crystals. The concept of chemical potential is introduced at the very beginning of the book together with temperature and pressure. It avoids or minimizes the use of terms such as molar Gibbs free energy, partial molar Gibbs free energy, or Gibbs potential because molar Gibbs free energy or partial molar Gibbs free energy is precisely the chemical potential of a material or a component. It is the chemical potential that determines the stability of chemical species, compounds, and phases and their tendency to chemically react to form new species, transform to new physical state, and migrate from one spatial location to another. Therefore, it is the chemical potential differences or gradients that drive essentially all materials processes of interest. A reader after finishing reading the book is expected to not only achieve a high-level fundamental understanding of thermodynamics but also acquire the analytical skills of applying thermodynamics to determining materials equilibrium and driving forces for materials processes.

This book looks at global atmospheric processes from a physical standpoint using available current and past observational data taken from measurements of relevant atmospheric parameters. It describes various aspects of the current atmospheric state and its future evolution, focusing primarily on the energetic balance of the Earth and atmosphere, and taking into consideration the multi-faceted global equilibrium between these two systems, carbon, and water. The analysis presented in this book restricts itself to those objects and processes that allow us to obtain reliable conclusions and numerical estimations, in contrast to current climate models with much larger numbers of parameters for describing the same problems. As a result, in spite of the roughness of numerical parameters, the book unveils a reliable and transparent physical picture of energetic phenomena in the global atmosphere. In particular, it shows that approximately only one-fourth of atmospheric water returns from the atmosphere to the Earth in the form of free molecules. It was shown that the contemporary warming of our planet has an anthropogenic character, and that the average global temperature increases due to an increase of the concentration of atmospheric CO2 molecules, via an increase in atmospheric moisture, as well as an increase in the amount of aerosols in the atmosphere. Accumulation of atmospheric carbon dioxide plays a subsidiary role in this process and gives approximately one-third in a change of the global temperature, while an increase in the amount of atmospheric water by as little as only 0.3% per year explains the observed warming of the Earth. The book shows how the greenhouse instability of the atmosphere evidently has its origins in the Eocene epoch, presenting an analysis of the influence of various types of global energetic processes on the climate that differs from the official stance on these problems.

This essential provides an overview of the changes in our climate, their causes and their consequences. Today, humanity's energy needs are largely met in ways that are harmful to the climate. The alternative to this, solar energy, would satisfy our needs thousands of times over. But this option is far too little used for mainly economic reasons. This essential then discusses the energy converters that can be used to make solar energy available. Some other modern energy sources, such as nuclear power, are either inadequate, still utopian, or otherwise environmentally harmful. An outlook shows that our energy problem could easily be solved with economic reason by global use of solar energy. The climate could thus still be stabilized in time. This book is a translation of the original German 1st edition Unser Klima und das Energieproblem by Klaus Stierstadt, published by Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden GmbH, part of Springer Nature in 2020. The translation was done with the help of artificial intelligence (machine translation by the service DeepL.com). A subsequent human revision was done primarily in terms of content, so that the book will read stylistically differently from a conventional translation. Springer Nature works continuously to further the development of tools for the production of books and on the related technologies to support the authors.

Survival of the fittest" is a tautology, because those that are "fit" are the ones that survive, but to survive, a species must be "fit". Modern evolutionary theory avoids the problem by defining fitness as reproductive success, but the complexity of life that we see today could not have evolved based on selection that favors only reproductive ability. There is nothing inherent in reproductive success alone that could result in higher forms of life. Evolution from a Thermodynamic Perspective presents a non-circular definition of fitness and a thermodynamic definition of evolution. Fitness means maximization of power output, necessary to survive in a competitive world. Evolution is the "storage of entropy". "Entropy storage" means that solar energy, instead of dissipating as heat in the Earth, is stored in the structure of living organisms and ecosystems. Part one explains this in terms comprehensible to a scientific audience beyond biophysicists and ecosystem modelers. Part two applies thermodynamic theory in non-esoteric language to sustainability of agriculture, and to conservation of endangered species. While natural systems are stabilized by feedback, agricultural systems remain in a mode of perpetual growth, pressured by balance of trade and by a swelling population. The constraints imposed by thermodynamic laws are being increasingly felt as economic expansion destabilizes resource systems on which expansion depends.

Materials for Advanced Heat Transfer Systems presents the latest research and technologies developed for high-performance materials in heat transfer and cooling. The book compiles sought after research academics and industry experts need to adopt to solve common problems in critical areas of heat transfer and cooling to help advance the field further. A variety of methodologies are included to synthesize the material used, along with the correct procedures to follow to ensure appropriate and effective use. Various case studies are presented to help the reader further understand the benefits and challenges of the materials discussed. Researchers, academics, students and engineers working on heat transfer systems will benefit from this interdisciplinary and applications-focused reference and be guided through various methodologies to make informed decisions based on the latest research and technologies available.