Thermodynamics and intertial frame

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the invariance of thermodynamic states such as temperature, pressure, and material properties in relation to inertial reference frames. Participants explore the implications of relativistic effects on these properties, considering both classical and relativistic thermodynamics.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants assert that classical thermodynamic states are invariant with respect to the motion of the observer.
  • Others argue that there is no generally accepted version of relativistic thermodynamics, and that temperature definitions vary under relativity.
  • One participant suggests that while temperature may be Lorentz invariant, pressure is not, due to its dependence on the concept of simultaneity and particle interactions.
  • Another viewpoint posits that the speed of sound is derived under specific conditions that assume the gas is stationary relative to the observer, complicating its invariance across different frames.
  • Some participants express uncertainty about the invariance of material properties and suggest that they may be Lorentz invariant.
  • There is a discussion about the implications of different speeds on thermal equilibrium and the definition of temperature based on the zeroth law of thermodynamics.
  • Several participants debate whether temperature is a scalar quantity under Lorentz transformations, with differing opinions on the relationship between temperature, energy, and entropy.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the invariance of thermodynamic properties across inertial frames. Multiple competing views are presented regarding the nature of temperature, pressure, and the speed of sound in relativistic contexts.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight limitations in definitions and assumptions, particularly regarding the conditions under which thermodynamic properties are evaluated. The discussion also touches on the complexities introduced by non-equilibrium conditions and the role of Lorentz transformations.

duri
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Is thermodynamics states like temperature, pressure and material properties like specific heat, thermal conductivity etc. invariant with inertial reference frame?.
 
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There is no generally accepted version of relativistic thermodynamics. Classically, there are several equivalent ways tp define temperature. Relativistically, they are no longer the same.
 
Yes, classily they are invariant with respect to the motion of the observer.

Chet
 
Chestermiller said:
Yes, classily they are invariant with respect to the motion of the observer.

Chet

Then sqrt(gamma*R*T) should be invariant with respect to inertial frame. (At least for speed in order of 100). Then can I claim speed of sound is invariant in all inertial frame of reference. I expect reply to be NO, but why it is no?
 
I think temperature is Lorentz invariant. Invariance under spatial rotation is trivial.About the boosts, when you change coordinates from one inertial one to another, you're actually changing the energy of each particle by a constant amount which doesn't contribute to the temperature.
But pressure doesn't seem to be Lorentz invariant to me. Because it depends on the average number of particles hitting the container's wall in a given amount of time. That definition has a concept of simultaneity hidden in it! and in addition it depends on time and space intervals which are not Lorentz invariant.
About material properties, I'm not sure but I think they're Lorentz invariant.
I should also say that its not trivial to say [itex]\sqrt{\gamma R T}[/itex] is Lorentz invariant.
As far as I remember, people replace things with other things in that formula to get speed of sound in terms of different things. So you should go to the actual derivation of this formula and see whether there is an assumption of taking a particular reference frame or not in between of the derivation. Because people aren't careful about SR when they talk about things as classical as speed of sound!
 
Last edited:
duri said:
Then sqrt(gamma*R*T) should be invariant with respect to inertial frame. (At least for speed in order of 100). Then can I claim speed of sound is invariant in all inertial frame of reference. I expect reply to be NO, but why it is no?
The speed of sound is a quantity that is inherently derived for a specific dynamic problem that assumes that the gas is stationary relative to the observer, and the wave is traveling through the gas. If the observer were moving at the speed of sound relative to the gas when he passed the point at which a pulse was applied, he would observe that the wave would be stationary, but the gas would be moving backwards. This would not be consistent with the premise that the observer is stationary relative to the gas. So the speed of sound is the solution to a dynamic problem with a specific set of boundary conditions. On the other hand, transport and intensive thermodynamic properties such as temperature, pressure, heat capacity, thermal conductivity, and viscosity are more fundamental, and are not tied to the solution of any specific dynalmic problem.

Chet
 
In my opinion, the main problem is that two thermodynamic systems which move at different speed cannot be in thermal equilibrium as e.g. their blackbody radiation spectrum will be blue or redshifted which will tend to equalize their velocity. So it is not possible to define relative temperature via the zeroth law for systems of different speed.
 
In my opinion entropy is scalar under Lorentz transformation.
Energy has coefficient [tex]\gamma[/tex] in Lorentz transformation.
So temperature dE/dS has coefficient [tex]\gamma[/tex] in Lorentz transformation as well.
 
duri said:
Is thermodynamics states like temperature, pressure and material properties like specific heat, thermal conductivity etc. invariant with inertial reference frame?.

I may be misunderstanding the question. When the wind blows, pressure becomes a function of the wind direction and velocity. Equilibrium gaseous equations of state are invalid under non-equilibrium conditions (wind, evaporation, condensation, etc.).

This is a common concern in the atmospheric sciences, since the global atmosphere is never in a state of equilibrium. Even small volumes of the free atmosphere are rarely (if ever) in a state of equilibrium.
 
  • #10
sweet springs said:
In my opinion entropy is scalar under Lorentz transformation.
Energy has coefficient [tex]\gamma[/tex] in Lorentz transformation.
So temperature dE/dS has coefficient [tex]\gamma[/tex] in Lorentz transformation as well.
Ok, but dE/dS isn't a scalar quantity as T is.
 
  • #11
DrDu said:
Ok, but dE/dS isn't a scalar quantity as T is.

Thanks. I am almost sure S is scalar but not sure T is. Could you tell me proof or reason ?
 
  • #12
temperature is defined by the zeroth law of thermodynamics, i.e. the transitivity of thermal equilibrium. Two systems are in thermal equilibrium if they have the same temperature. So temperature is a scalar. But E is part of the energy momentum four vector, so if S is scalar, dE/dS can't be a scalar.
 
  • #13
DrDu said:
temperature is defined by the zeroth law of thermodynamics, i.e. the transitivity of thermal equilibrium. Two systems are in thermal equilibrium if they have the same temperature. So temperature is a scalar.

Thanks. Scalar is number that does not change under Lorentz transformation. Two system A and B are in thermal equilibrium. In IFR #0
[tex]T_{0A}=T_{0B}[/tex]
In IFR #1
[tex]T_{1A}=T_{1B}[/tex]
How can we conclude that
[tex]T_{0A}=T_{1A}[/tex]
in order T to be a scalar?
 
  • #14
PS I consider
[tex]T_{1A}=T_{0A},\\T_{1A}=\gamma T_{0A},\\T_{1A}=\frac{T_{0A}}{\gamma}[/tex]
are the three major controverse ideas.
 

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