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[Phys-l] The Conceptual Meaning of Thermodynamic Entropy in the 21st Century

Some subscribers to Phys-L might be interested in Frank Lambert's (2011) "The Conceptual Meaning of Thermodynamic Entropy in the 21st Century" at <http://bit.ly/upGF5C>, click "Full Article PDF" after accessing the URL. Lambert's abstract reads:

"Although entropy change - the process described by Clausius and characterized as the second law of thermodynamics - involves only two terms, energy change and temperature, neither he nor distinguished scientists of the past century focused on that fact. The novel word 'entropy' apparently drew them to concentrate on its 'meaning' rather than on dq, the energy becoming spread out or dispersed in phase space in any spontaneous process. Today, beginners and experts can readily see that process as fundamental in thermodynamic change."

See also the Wikipdedia entries <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_L._Lambert>, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entropy_(energy_dispersal)>, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entropy>, and Lambert's site <http://entropysite.oxy.edu/>.

Richard Hake, Emeritus Professor of Physics, Indiana University
Honorary Member, Curmudgeon Lodge of Deventer, The Netherlands
President, PEdants for Definitive Academic References
which Recognize the Invention of the Internet (PEDARRII)
<rrhake@earthlink.net>
Links to Articles: <http://bit.ly/a6M5y0>
Links to SDI Labs: <http://bit.ly/9nGd3M>
Blog: <http://bit.ly/9yGsXh>
Academia: <http://iub.academia.edu/RichardHake>


REFERENCES
Lambert, F.L. 2011. "The Conceptual Meaning of Thermodynamic Entropy in the 21st Century," International Journal of Pure and Applied Chemistry 1(3), online at <http://bit.ly/upGF5C>. At <http://entropysite.oxy.edu/>, Lambert wrote "[This article's] major goal is to explain why brilliant physicists and chemists of the past century failed to explain entropy clearly - i.e., to develop an adequate conceptual explanation for the success of dS = dq/T. Certainly, the 'driving force' in this relationship is simple: the nature of q, energy, is to spread out, disperse in space/ in phase space if its constraints are lessened or removed."