Entropy

Author: Arieh Ben-Naim
Publisher:
ISBN: 9789783147676
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 274

Book Description
This book discusses the proper definitions of entropy, the valid interpretation of entropy and some useful applications of the concept of entropy. Unlike many books which apply the concept of entropy to systems for which it is not even defined (such as living systems, black holes and the entire universe), these applications will help the reader to understand the meaning of entropy. It also emphasizes the limitations of the applicability of the concept of entropy and the Second Law of Thermodynamics. As with the previous books by the author, this book aims at a clear and mystery-free presentation of the central concept in thermodynamics the entropy. In this book, the concepts of entropy and the Second Law are presented in a friendly, simple language. It is devoid of all kinds of fancy and pompous statements made by authors of popular science books who write on this subject.

The Four Laws That Do Not Drive The Universe

Author: Arieh Ben-Naim
Publisher: World Scientific
ISBN: 9813223472
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 202

Book Description
This book provides a clear and mystery-free presentation of the central concepts in thermodynamics — probability, entropy, Helmholtz energy and Gibbs energy. It presents the concepts of entropy, free energy and various formulations of the Second Law in a friendly, simple language. It is devoid of all kinds of fancy and pompous statements made by authors of popular science books who write on this subject. The book focuses on the Four Laws of Thermodynamics. As it is said in the dedication page, this book is addressed to readers who might have already been exposed to Atkins' book having a similar title. It challenges both the title, and the contents of Atkins' book, Four Laws That Drive The Universe. One can glean from the title of this new book that the author's views are diametrically opposed to the views of Atkins. The book is addressed to any curious and intelligent reader. It aims to tickle, and hopefully to satisfy your curiosity. It also aims to challenge your gray matter, and to enrich your knowledge by telling you some facts and ideas regarding the Four Laws of Thermodynamics.

The Physical Nature of Information

Author: Gregory Falkovich
Publisher: Princeton University Press
ISBN: 0691266530
Category : Computers
Languages : en
Pages : 232

Book Description
A unified introduction to information theory for scientists Applications of information theory span a broad range of disciplines today. This book presents a unified treatment of the subject for students and practitioners in the sciences. It teaches the tools universally used by physicists working on quantum computers and black holes, engineers designing self-driving cars, traders perfecting market strategies, chemists playing with molecules, biologists studying cells and living beings, linguists analyzing languages, and neuroscientists figuring out how the brain works. No matter what area of science you specialize in, The Physical Nature of Information unlocks the power of information theory to test the limits imposed by uncertainty. Provides a panoramic approach to information theory Draws on examples from physics, engineering, biology, economics, and linguistics Applications range from thermodynamics and statistical mechanics to dynamical chaos, information and communication theories, and quantum information Includes materials for lectures and tutorials along with exercises with detailed solutions Can be used to design a one-semester introductory course Ideal for self-study by graduate students and advanced undergraduates Invaluable for scholars seeking new research opportunities

Entropy for Smart Kids and their Curious Parents

Author: Arieh Ben-Naim
Publisher: Cambridge Scholars Publishing
ISBN: 1527534693
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 362

Book Description
This book discusses entropy and the Second Law of Thermodynamics in such a way that everyone can understand its subject matter. Entropy is one of the most interesting concepts in physics. Although it is a well-defined concept, it is still perceived by even well-known scientists as a concept cloaked in mystery. It is also the most misused, and often abused, concept in physics. In order to understand entropy, one needs to understand the Shannon measure of information, and in order to grasp this idea, one must be familiar with some basic concepts of probability. Therefore, this book consists of three chapters: the first discusses probability, the second addresses Information Theory, and the third considers entropy and the Second Law of Thermodynamics. Readers will discover that the Second Law is nothing but a law of probability.

A Farewell to Entropy

Author: Arieh Ben-Naim
Publisher: World Scientific
ISBN: 981279073X
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 411

Book Description
The contributions in this volume discuss numerous hot topics of interdisciplinary interest in plasma physics, astrophysics, and fluid dynamics. It collects the articles presented at a Workshop that has gathered world experts with a broad spectrum of research interests.

Making Sense of Statistical Mechanics

Author: Jean Bricmont
Publisher: Springer Nature
ISBN: 3030917940
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 375

Book Description
Many people, including physicists, are confused about what the Second Law of thermodynamics really means, about how it relates to the arrow of time, and about whether it can be derived from classical mechanics. They also wonder what entropy really is: Is it all about information? But, if so, then, what is its relation to fluxes of heat? One might ask similar questions about probabilities: Do they express subjective judgments by us, humans, or do they reflect facts about the world, i.e. frequencies. And what notion of probability is used in the natural sciences, in particular statistical mechanics? This book addresses all of these questions in the clear and pedagogical style for which the author is known. Although valuable as accompaniment to an undergraduate course on statistical mechanics or thermodynamics, it is not a standard course book. Instead it addresses both the essentials and the many subtle questions that are usually brushed under the carpet in such courses. As one of the most lucid accounts of the above questions, it provides enlightening reading for all those seeking answers, including students, lecturers, researchers and philosophers of science.

Entropy

Author: Arieh Ben-Naim
Publisher: World Scientific Publishing Company
ISBN: 9789813147669
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 274

Book Description
This book discusses the proper definitions of entropy, the valid interpretation of entropy and some useful applications of the concept of entropy. Unlike many books which apply the concept of entropy to systems for which it is not even defined (such as living systems, black holes and the entire universe), these applications will help the reader to understand the meaning of entropy. It also emphasizes the limitations of the applicability of the concept of entropy and the Second Law of Thermodynamics. As with the previous books by the author, this book aims at a clear and mystery-free presentation of the central concept in thermodynamics -- the entropy. In this book, the concepts of entropy and the Second Law are presented in a friendly, simple language. It is devoid of all kinds of fancy and pompous statements made by authors of popular science books who write on this subject.

Information Theory and Selected Applications

Author: Arieh Ben-Naim
Publisher: Springer Nature
ISBN: 3031212762
Category : Computers
Languages : en
Pages : 242

Book Description
This book focuses on analysing the applications of the Shannon Measure of Information (SMI). The book introduces the concept of frustration and discusses the question of the quantification of this concept within information theory (IT), while it also focuses on the interpretation of the entropy of systems of interacting particles in terms of the SMI and of mutual information. The author examines the question of the possibility of measuring the extent of frustration using mutual information and discusses some classical examples of processes of mixing and assimilation for which the entropy changes are interpreted in terms of SMI. A description of a few binding systems and the interpretation of cooperativity phenomena in terms of mutual information are also presented, along with a detailed discussion on the general method of using maximum SMI in order to find the “best-guess” probability distribution. This book is a valuable contribution to the field of information theory and will be of great interest to any scientist who is interested in IT and in its potential applications.

Information Theory

Author: Arieh Ben-Naim
Publisher: World Scientific
ISBN: 9813208821
Category : Computers
Languages : en
Pages : 365

Book Description
This book is about the definition of the Shannon measure of Information, and some derived quantities such as conditional information and mutual information. Unlike many books, which refer to the Shannon's Measure of information (SMI) as "Entropy," this book makes a clear distinction between the SMI and Entropy. In the last chapter, Entropy is derived as a special case of SMI. Ample examples are provided which help the reader in understanding the different concepts discussed in this book. As with previous books by the author, this book aims at a clear and mystery-free presentation of the central concept in Information theory — the Shannon's Measure of Information. This book presents the fundamental concepts of Information theory in a friendly-simple language and is devoid of all kinds of fancy and pompous statements made by authors of popular science books who write on this subject. It is unique in its presentation of Shannon's measure of information, and the clear distinction between this concept and the thermodynamic entropy. Although some mathematical knowledge is required by the reader, the emphasis is on the concepts and their meaning rather on the mathematical details of the theory.

Entropy Demystified: The Second Law Reduced To Plain Common Sense

Author: Arieh Ben-naim
Publisher: World Scientific
ISBN: 9814476870
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 248

Book Description
In this unique book, Arieh Ben-Naim invites the reader to experience the joy of appreciating something which has eluded understanding for many years — entropy and the Second Law of Thermodynamics.The book has a two-pronged message: first, that the Second Law is not “infinitely incomprehensible” as commonly stated in textbooks of thermodynamics but can, in fact, be comprehended through sheer common sense; and second, that entropy is not a mysterious quantity that has “resisted understanding” but a simple, familiar and easily comprehensible concept.Written in an accessible style, the book guides the reader through an abundance of dice games and examples from everyday life. The author paves the way for readers to discover for themselves what entropy is, how it changes, and most importantly, why it always changes in one direction in a spontaneous process.