Which Thermodynamics Book Offers the Most Comprehensive Coverage?

[pivoxa15]

I have used Shroeder's Intro to Thermal Physics but found it a bit non rigorous and uncomplete. It tries to cover every aspect of thermal physics in a non detail fashion. Does anyone know of any good thermodynamics book that covers the thermodymaics very completely and clearly?

 

[las3rjock]

My suggestions would be either Kittel and Kroemer's Thermal Physics or Reif's Fundamentals of Statistical and Thermal Physics.

 

[marcusl]

I second these recommendations.

 

[pivoxa15]

My suggestions would be either Kittel and Kroemer's Thermal Physics or Reif's Fundamentals of Statistical and Thermal Physics.

The former looks a bit old with notations that seem too old and students these days not used to them.

 

[las3rjock]

Kittel/Kroemer looks old-fashioned compared to Reif?! My next suggestion would be Landau and Lifsh*tz's Statistical Physics part 1, but we're rapidly moving out of undergraduate territory and firmly into graduate territory.

Also, can you specify whether you want a thermodynamics book, a thermal physics book, or a statistical mechanics book? I know they sound like they're all the same thing, but there are subtle differences. My first two suggestions were for thermal physics, but I have some different suggestions if you're looking for thermodynamics.

 

[pivoxa15]

Kittel/Kroemer looks old-fashioned compared to Reif?! My next suggestion would be Landau and Lifsh*tz's Statistical Physics part 1, but we're rapidly moving out of undergraduate territory and firmly into graduate territory.

Also, can you specify whether you want a thermodynamics book, a thermal physics book, or a statistical mechanics book? I know they sound like they're all the same thing, but there are subtle differences. My first two suggestions were for thermal physics, but I have some different suggestions if you're looking for thermodynamics.

Now having seen Reif, they both seem old fashioned. I am looking for an indepth thermodynamics book with newish notations.

 

[marcusl]

Hmm, I'm not sure what new notations are. The notations used in the books, as well as in current papers on, e.g., non-equilibrium statistical mechanics, are pretty much unchanged from the days of Boltzmann and Gibbs.

 

[las3rjock]

For thermodynamics, I would recommend Adkins' Equilibrium Thermodynamics. Another book that has been mentioned in a different thread in this forum is Kestin's A Course in Thermodynamics. The classic introductory text is Zemansky's Heat and Thermodynamics, but it's probably not as modern as you would like.