Four Laws That Drive the Universe

by Peter Atkins

Overview

The laws of thermodynamics drive everything that happens in the universe. From the sudden expansion of a cloud of gas to the cooling of hot metal, and from the unfurling of a leaf to the course of life itself - everything is directed and constrained by four simple laws. They establish fundamental concepts such as temperature and heat, and reveal the arrow of time and even the nature of energy itself. Peter Atkins' powerful and compelling introduction explains what the laws are and how they work, using accessible language and virtually no mathematics. Guiding the reader from the Zeroth Law to the Third Law, he introduces the fascinating concept of entropy, and how it not only explains why your desk tends to get messier, but also how its unstoppable rise constitutes the engine of the universe.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780191647635
Publisher:	OUP Oxford
Publication date:	09/06/2007
Series:	Very Short Introductions
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

Peter Atkins is Professor of Chemistry at the University of Oxford and Fellow of Lincoln College. He is the author of nearly 60 books, which includeGalileo's finger: The Ten Great Ideas of Scienceand the world-renowned textbook Physical Chemistry(now in its eighth edition). His other books includeThe Periodic Kingdom, Molecules, and the textbooksInorganic Chemistry,Chemical Principles, andMolecular Quantum Mechanics. He has been a visiting professor in France, Israel, New Zealand, and China, and continues to lecture widely throughout the world.

Table of Contents

Prologue1. THE ZEROTH LAW: the concept of temperature2. THE FIRST LAW: the conservation of energy3. THE SECOND LAW: the increase in entropy4. FREE ENERGY: the availability of work5. THE THIRD LAW: the unattainability of zeroConclusion

Editorial Reviews

"I found it an enjoyable and informative read- a worthwhile attempt to popularize a cornerstone subject of modern science without trivializing it at the same time."--Chemistry World

"A wonderful book that I wish I had read at university."--Marcus Chown, New Scientist

"Highly recommended for all levels." J. A. Bartz, Choice

"The lucid text and clear figures offer readers a firm understanding of energy and entropy."--Science

From the Publisher