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ericmazur / PnPbook

Tracking of typos, errors, and improvements for "The Principles and Practice of Physics"
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first law of thermodynamics #3

Open JohnDenker opened 9 years ago

JohnDenker commented 9 years ago

I can't seem to find the first law of thermodynamics mentioned anywhere in the text. It would be nice to add it somewhere. If it's already there, it should be featured more prominently. Also it should be added to the appropriate chapter summary, and to the index. As it stands, in the index under T for Thermodynamics, there is an entry for the second law, but not the first. (See #181 for a catalog of index-related issues.)

Hint: In case anybody is wondering, I strongly suggest that the first law of thermodynamics should be defined as conservation of energy ... nothing more, nothing less. (Details available on request.)

ericmazur commented 9 years ago

I guess I was SO focussed on conservation of energy, that I totally forgot about convention! See Eq. 20.1 on p.547. I guess I should add a reference there saying this is also known as the first law of thermodynamics

JohnDenker commented 9 years ago

I agree with the comment posted under issue #4: equation 20.1 ought not be called the first law of thermodynamics. (It all-too-commonly is, but it shouldn't be.) It is only a restricted corollary.

The first law should be conservation of energy ... nothing more, nothing less.