The opportunity exists (click here) to create a thermodynamics syllabus based on moving and interacting atoms. I believe that employing such an “atoms first” approach will enable students to better learn, better understand, and more confidently employ thermodynamics in a proactive and creative way. The challenge in front of us is to develop this syllabus.

Below is my initial proposal for the structure of this syllabus. The structure is hopefully self-explanatory. I share this to get your reaction. Does this work for you? Does it make sense? Is it doable? Naturally, the critical component is the final component: establishing the cause-effect links between the micro and macro. Please let me know your thoughts. I welcome the feedback. Thank you.

(Thanks once again to Carly Sanker for her excellent illustration of my ideas).