Abstract
Considering the fundamental importance which we now attribute to entropy in physics and chemistry and natural philosophy one may find it odd that Clausius discovered the notion in the context of heat engines. We must realize, however, that thermodynamics started out as the science of the “motive power of heat” and the very name of the science — thermodynamics — recalls that origin.
Clausius’ proof of the existence of entropy and his investigation of its properties are very much “a physicist’s argument” starting from a loosely worded axiom. As such, the proof is looked upon with disdain by analysts. Even so, in this chapter we retrace the steps of Clausius. After all, he was first, and physicists at least find his arguments convincing; they love them!
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Chapter 1 (Clausius)
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(2005). Origin of entropy in the work of Clausius. In: Entropy and Energy. Interaction of Mechanics and Mathematics. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-32380-5_1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-32380-5_1
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
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