This classic by the Nobel Laureate is still recognized as one of the best introductions to thermodynamics. A model of conciseness and clarity, it covers fundamental facts and definitions, first and second fundamental principles of thermodynamics, applications to special states of equilibrium, and much more. Numerous worked examples. 1917 edition.

"Written by the founder of quantum theory, a Nobel Prize winner, this classic volume is still recognized as among the best introductions to thermodynamics. It is a model of conciseness and logic, ideally suited to the needs of both students and research workers in physics and chemistry. Based on Planck's original papers, the book offers a uniform point of view for the entire field. Rejecting the earlier approaches of Helmholtz and Maxwell, Planck makes no assumptions regarding the nature of heat, but begins with only a few empirical facts from which he deduces new physical and chemical laws. He considers fundamental facts and definitions (temperature, molecular weight, quantity of heat), the first and second fundamental principles of thermodynamics (applications to homogeneous and non-homogeneous systems, proof, general deductions), and applications to special states of equilibrium (homogeneous systems, systems in various states of aggregation, system of any number of independent constituents, gaseous systems, dilute solutions, absolute value of the entropy, Nernst's theorem). Throughout the book numerous examples are worked.

From the PREFACE. The oft-repeated requests either to publish my collected papers on Thermo-dynamics, or to work them up into a comprehensive treatise, first suggested the writing of this book. Although the first plan would have been the simpler, especially as I found no occasion to make any important changes in the Hue of thought of my original papers, yet I decided to rewrite the whole subject-matter, with the intention of giving at greater length, and with more detail, certain general considerations and demonstrations too concisely expressed in these papers. My chief reason, however, was that an opportunity was thus offered of presenting the entire field of Thermodynamics from a uniform point of view. This, to be sure, deprives the work of the character of an original contribution to science, and stamps it rather as an introductory text-book on Thermodynamics for students who have taken elementary courses in Physics and Chemistry, and are familiar with the elements of the Differential and Integral Calculus. Still, I do not think that this book will entirely supersede my former publications on the same subject. Apart from the fact that these contain, in a sense, a more original presentation, there may be found in them a number of details expanded at greater length than seemed advisable in the more comprehensive treatment here required. To enable the reader to revert in particular eases to the original form for comparison, a list of my publications on Thermodynamics has been appended, with a reference in each case to the section of the book which deals with the same point. The numerical values in the examples, which have been worked, as applications of the theory, have, almost all of them, been taken from the original papers; only a few, that have been determined by frequent measurement, have been taken from the tables in Kohlrausch's "Leitfaden der praktischen Physik." It should be emphasized, however, that the numbers used, notwithstanding the care taken, have not undergone the same amount of critical sifting as the more general propositions and deductions. Three distinct methods of investigation may be clearly recognized in the previous development of Thermodynamics. The first penetrates deepest into the nature of the processes considered, and, were it possible to carry it out exactly, would be designated as the most perfect. Heat, according to it, is due to the definite motions of the chemical molecules and atoms considered as distinct masses, which in the case of gases possess comparatively simple properties, but in the case of solids and liquids can be only very roughly sketched. This kinetic theory, founded by Joule, Waterston, Kronig and Clausius, has been greatly extended mainly by Maxwell and Holtzmann. Obstacles, at present unsurmountable, however, seem to stand in the way of its further progress. These are due not only to the highly complicated mathematical treatment, but principally to essential difficulties, not to be discussed here, in the mechanical interpretation of the fundamental principles of Thermodynamics....