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A novel approach to a truly dynamic thermodynamics
Author(s) -
Lindenmeyer Paul H.,
Astarita G.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.760340404
Subject(s) - non equilibrium thermodynamics , second law of thermodynamics , laws of thermodynamics , physics , entropy (arrow of time) , fundamental thermodynamic relation , theoretical physics , thermodynamics , statistical physics , unification , mathematics , computer science , programming language
Abstract A novel approach to a truly dynamic thermodynamics is proposed in which equilibrium is defined in terms of explicit time, distance, and acceptable error scales. This approach involves reformulating the second law of thermodynamics in terms of an excess energy that vanishes at equilibrium instead of an entropy that assumes some unknown maximum value. Excess energy is defined mathematically as the total Legendre transform of energy with respect to an independent set of extensive variables. Excess energy is effectively the free energy functional of a nonequilibrium system and is a function of the time, distance, and acceptable error scales. Elimination of entropy from thermodynamics requires recognizing temperature as a thermal stress, proportional to the antimetric component of the stress tensor that is neglected when one assumes the validity of Cauchy's second law of motion. The inclusion of temperature as part of the stress‐strain couple completes the science of thermomechanics and opens the way for a practical unification of chemistry and physics in strictly mechanical terms. The last sentence of the abstract shows how high the goals that Lindem meyer set for himself were. I personally do not agree with the idea that mechanics is the queen of all sciences, and that given deep enough probing one could achieve “a practical unification of chemistxy and physics in strictly mechanical terms”; for instance, electromagnetism has full citizenship's rights in physics, and it is hard to conceive that it could be reduced to mechanics.