One of the best openings in a book ONE THERMODYNAMICS AND STATISTICAL MECHANICS 1.1 INTROOUCTION: THERMODYNAMICS AND MECHANICS OF THE PERFECT GAS Ludwig Boltzmann, who spent much of his life studying

One of the best openings in a book
ONE
THERMODYNAMICS AND
STATISTICAL MECHANICS
1.1 INTROOUCTION: THERMODYNAMICS AND
MECHANICS OF THE PERFECT GAS
Ludwig Boltzmann, who spent much of his life studying statistical
mechanics. died in 1906, his own hand. Paul Ehrenfest, carrying the
work, died similarly in 1933. Now to
Perhaps it will be wise to approach the subject cautiously. We will
considering the simplest meaningful example, the perfect gas, in order
get the central concepts sorted out. in Chap. 2 we will return to complete
of
the solution of that problem,
much of the rest of the book.
and the results