This vibrant book takes the reader on an exciting journey through much of physical sciences by explaining the wide ranging influence of a single equation, the Boltzmann factor. This simple relation provides the key to understanding a remarkable variety of phenomena ranging from, for example, the behavior of atmospheric pressure at altitude, the appearance of molecular spectra and the factors that determine chemical equilibrium. Compact and clearly written book, this book, which requires no advanced mathematical skills, will enrich and deepen students' understanding of the molecular sciences.…mehr
This vibrant book takes the reader on an exciting journey through much of physical sciences by explaining the wide ranging influence of a single equation, the Boltzmann factor. This simple relation provides the key to understanding a remarkable variety of phenomena ranging from, for example, the behavior of atmospheric pressure at altitude, the appearance of molecular spectra and the factors that determine chemical equilibrium. Compact and clearly written book, this book, which requires no advanced mathematical skills, will enrich and deepen students' understanding of the molecular sciences. The insight it provides will enable them to appreciate the elegant unity that underlies the subject.
Sir Brian Smith received his first degree and his doctorate at Liverpool University. After two years at UC Berkeley he was appointed Lecturer in Physical Chemistry and Fellow of St Catherine's College, Oxford. Later, he was elected Master of the College. He subsequently became Vice-Chancellor of Cardiff University. His research interests include inter-molecular forces and the biological effects of simple gases.
Inhaltsangabe
Prologue. Chapter 1: Introduction. Chapter 2: Thermodynamic properties: Energy, entropy and equilibrium. Chapter 3: Two level system. Chapter 4: Partial functions. Chapter 5: Equally spaced energy levels and simple solids. Chapter 6: Perfect monatomic gases. Chapter 7: Diatomic and polyatomic gases. Chapter 8: Intermolecular energy. Chapter 9: Equilibrium. Chapter 10: Rates of reaction. Chapter 11: Quantum statistics. Epilogue. Further reading. Appendices. Index.