Finn's Thermal Physics (3^rd Ed.)

This fully updated and expanded new edition continues to provide the most readable, concise, and easy-to-follow introduction to thermal physics. While maintaining the style of the original work, the book now covers statistical mechanics and incorporates worked examples systematically throughout the text. It also includes more problems and essential updates, such as discussions on superconductivity, magnetism, Bose-Einstein condensation, and climate change. Anyone needing to acquire an intuitive understanding of thermodynamics from first principles will find this third edition indispensable.

Andrew Rex is professor of physics at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington. He is author of several textbooks and the popular science book, Commonly Asked Questions in Physics.

Temperature. Reversible Processes and Work. The First Law of Thermodynamics. The Second Law of Thermodynamics. Entropy. Statistical Mechanics. Thermodynamic Potentials and Maxwell Relations. Some General Thermodynamic Relations. Magnetic Systems. Change of Phase. Open Systems and Chemical Potential. The Third Law of Thermodynamics. Quantum Statistics. Appendices.

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Andrew Rex is professor of physics at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington. He received the his B.A. in physics from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1977 and the his Ph.D. in physics from the University of Virginia in 1982. At Virginia he worked under the direction of Bascom S. Deaver, Jr. on the development of new superconducting materials. After completing requirements for the his Ph.D. he joined the faculty at Puget Sound.

Dr. Rex’s primary research interest is in the foundations of the second law of thermodynamics. He has published research articles and, jointly with Harvey Leff, two comprehensive monographs on the subject of Maxwell’s demon (1990, 2003). Dr. Rex has co-authored several widely used textbooks: Modern Physics for Scientists and Engineers (1993, 2000, 2006, 2013), Integrated Physics and Calculus (2000), and Essential College Physics (2010), and the popular science book Commonly Asked Questions in Physics, also published by Taylor & Francis / CRC Press.

Dr. Rex has served in administrative roles, including chair of his department and Director of the University of Puget Sound Honors Program. He is devoted to physics education and has been an active participant in the American Association of Physics Teachers, the Society of Physics Students, Sigma Pi Sigma, and Sigma Xi. In 2004 Dr. Rex was recognized for his teaching with the President’s Award for Teaching Excellence.