Modern Engineering Thermodynamics

Preface
TEXT OBJECTIVES
This textbook has two main objectives. The first is to provide students with a clear presentation of the
fundamental principles of basic and applied engineering thermodynamics. The second is to help students develop
skills as engineering problem solvers by nurturing the development of their confidence with basic engineering
principles through the use of numerous solved example problems. Problem-solving skills are not necessarily
learnedsimplybyroutinelysolvingmore and more problems. The understanding of proven problem-solving
strategies and techniques greatly accelerates the development of problem-solving skills. Throughout the text, learning
assessment exercises are included that have proven to be effective in helping students to understand and
develop confidence in their ability to solve engineering thermodynamics problems.
To meet these objectives, explanations are occasionally more detailed than those found in other texts, because
common learning difficulties encountered by students have been anticipated. If students can understand the text
by simply reading it, then the instructor has more flexibility in selecting lecture material. For example, an
instructor might choose to develop a few salient points from the reading and then work a few interesting
example problems, rather than present a complete derivation of all the assigned reading material.
CULTURAL INFRASTRUCTURE
What engineers do has an enormous impact on society and the world. Understanding how the great challenges
of engineering were met in the past can help students understand the importance of the theory and practice of
modern engineering principles. This text presents the historical background, the current uses, and the future
importance of the thermodynamic topics treated. By understanding where ideas come from, how they were
developed, and what external forces shaped the resulting technology, students will better understand their role
as engineers of the future.
Engineering is an exciting and rewarding career. However, students occasionally become disenchanted with their
engineering course work because they are unable to see the connection between what they are studying and
what an engineer really does. To combat this problem, the thermodynamic concepts in this text are presented in
a straightforward logical manner, and then applied to real-world engineering situations that are both timely and
interesting.
TEXT COVERAGE
This text was designed for use in a standard two-semester engineering thermodynamics course sequence. The first
part of the text (Chapters 1–10) contains material suitable for a Basic Thermodynamics course that can be taken
by engineers from all majors. The second part of the text was designed for an Applied Thermodynamics course
in a mechanical engineering program. Chapters 17, 18, and 19 present several unique topics (biothermodynamics,
statistical thermodynamics, and coupled phenomena) for those wishing to glimpse the future of the
subject.
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