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Entropy = order (not dis-order)
In his Physical Chemistry book (6th Edition, p. 99), Peter Atkins wrote that entropy “is a measure of the molecular disorder of a system.” Other references contain similar statements that connect entropy with disorder. I see things differently. The appearance of structure in large systems of colliding atoms Assume a system of a trillion atoms… Continue reading
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James Clerk Maxwell’s path to the Gaussian distribution
If a great many equal spherical particles were in motion in a perfectly elastic vessel, collisions would take place among the particles, and their velocities would be altered at every collision; so that after a certain time the vis viva [kinetic energy] will be divided among the particles according to some regular law. – James… Continue reading
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My Unanswered Questions – three updates
As I shared earlier (here), a significant challenge confronting me in writing my second book is that I have many unanswered questions regarding thermodynamics’ micro-to-macro connections. I have begun the process of answering these questions by listing them all here and then creating individual pages for each with the intent to share my ongoing progress… Continue reading
Block by Block – The Historical and Theoretical Foundations of Thermodynamics. “Hanlon has written a masterpiece.” – Mike Pauken, Senior Engineer, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and author of Thermodynamics for Dummies
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About Me
Hi! I’m Bob Hanlon. After earning my Sc.D. in chemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and enjoying a long career in both industry and academia, I’ve returned to school, my own self-guided school, seeking to better understand the world of thermodynamics. Please join me on my journey.
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