Re: [Phys-L] thermodynamics of open systems

[brian whatcott <betwys1@sbcglobal.net>]

I was hoping someone might mention a detail that caught my eye, so that 
I would not
 need to illustrate the phrase that 'fools rush in..." (already enough 
of those already?  :-)

Anyway, a comment Carl offered on Eq 1) that this is merely a math 
expression for
 differentials of three independent variables. When I compared with an 
open class from MIT
on differentiating three unknowns, it distinguished  this thermodynamic 
expression
 as a function of three Not independent variables...

Brian W

On 7/17/2012 11:20 AM, Donald Polvani wrote:
> I read Carl Mungan's article and have the following comments:
>
> 1) There is a minor typo on page 2, fourth paragraph down.  Need the word
> "wrong" after "Actually there's nothing ..."
>
> 2) I'm not sure what the audience is for this article, but it would be
> beyond the understanding of most of our students taking the second semester
> of our introductory freshman/sophomore calculus based physics course
> (thermodynamics and E&M).  We use Young and Freedman, "University Physics",
> 13th Edition Chapters 17 - 20 for the thermodynamics portion of the course.
> They don't even mention chemical potential (mu) or the Sackur-Tetrode
> entropy equation.  Frankly, I'm not familiar with this equation either.  My
> training in thermodynamics has been sadly neglected.  I learned my physics
> in the 60s when thermodynamics was not stressed.
>
> 3) I thought the article was well written (just not suitable for our
> introductory course students).  It was of benefit to me as their instructor.
> Perhaps, that was the intent.
>
> Don
> Dr. Donald G. Polvani
> Adjunct Faculty, Physics
> Anne Arundel Community College
> Arnold, MD 21012
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: phys-l-bounces@mail.phys-l.org [mailto:phys-l-bounces@mail.phys-l.org]
> On Behalf Of Carl Mungan
> Sent: Sunday, July 15, 2012 5:37 PM
> To: phys-l@mail.phys-l.org
> Subject: [Phys-L] thermodynamics of open systems
>
> I read a nice article in J. Chem. Ed. yesterday. I simplified somewhat the
> analysis in it and post my summary here:
>
> http://usna.edu/Users/physics/mungan/Scholarship/OpenSystems.pdf
>
> I would be delighted by comments on it. (Try hard not to get hung up on
> terminology, unless that *really* impedes understanding in your opinion.)
> -Carl
>
> --
> Carl E Mungan, Assoc Prof of Physics  410-293-6680 (O) -3729 (F) Naval
> Academy Stop 9c, 572C Holloway Rd, Annapolis MD 21402-1363
> mailto:mungan@usna.edu     http://usna.edu/Users/physics/mungan/
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