Abstract
The development of a thermodynamic scale of temperature, based on the physical arguments of Carnot and Kelvin for a reversible thermodynamic device operating between two identifiable thermal states, may be treated as an exercise in dimensional analysis. Such an exercise brings out the following points for study:
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(1)
The role of what Bridgman [1] calls the ‘Absolute Significance of the Relative Magnitude’ in establishing a cardinal scale.
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(2)
The Principle of Coherence for metric properties.
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(3)
The restrictions on inversion of functional relationships.
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(4)
The choice of scale still open at the end of dimensional arguments, to be determined on other grounds.
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References
Bridgman, P. W. (1922), “Dimensional Analysis”, Yale University Press, New Haven.
Celsius, A. (1971), “Observationer om twanne bestandiga grader pa en thermometer”, (1742), (see “Dictionary of Scientific Biography”, Vol. Ill, Scribner, New York.
Kelvin, Lrd (W. Thomson) (1890) “Mathematical and Physical Papers”, Cambridge University Press. (a) “On an absolute thermometric scale”, Vol. I, p.100 (1848). (b)“0n the dynamical theory of heat”, Vol. I, p. 233 ( 1854.
Kestin, J. (1968), “A Course in Thermodynamics”, (2 vols.), Blaisdell, p.197.
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© 1985 Plenum Press, New York
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Lewins, J.D. (1985). Thermodynamic Temperature — Dimensional Analysis. In: Lewins, J.D. (eds) Teaching Thermodynamics. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-2163-7_27
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-2163-7_27
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