Thermodynamics and Energy

Microscopic Heat and First Law of Thermodynamics

Authors: Juan R. Gonzalez Alvarez
Comments: 31 Pages. Improved grammar and presentation - Same conclusions

Heat is defined in classical thermodynamics as an energy transfer mechanism, but its fundamental nature is not yet fully understood. After reviewing previous macroscopic, mesoscopic, and microscopic approaches to heat, we propose a fundamental definition of heat in terms of a fully detailed microscopic description and apply this definition to a one-component gas with constant composition for comparison with the usual macroscopic formulae. Using the new definition, we debunk common claims in the literature that associate heat with our ignorance of the microscopic details of a thermodynamic system.
Category: Thermodynamics and Energy