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Thermodynamics

The four laws, worked from the classical side. Nothing in here assumes atoms exist.

  1. 01The Four LawsFour statements arrived at before anyone accepted atoms. Each one rules something out.
  2. 02Entropy, ProperlyA count of the microstates consistent with what you can measure from outside.
  3. 03Phase EquilibriumWhat fixes the pressure and temperature at which two phases sit side by side.
  4. 04The Thermodynamic PotentialsLegendre transforms of the energy. Each picks out the variables you can actually hold fixed in a lab.
  5. 05Stability and Response FunctionsHeat capacities and compressibilities come out positive. You can read why off the curvature of the potentials.