The laws of statistical mechanics and thermodynamics form one of the most fascinating branches of physics, and this text imparts some of this fascination to the student. The rapid growth in scientific knowledge means that an undergraduate physics course can no longer teach the whole of physics. With this in mind Professor Mandl has written a book which allows great flexibility in its use; it enables readers to proceed by the quickest route to a particular topic, and it enables teachers to select courses differing in length, difficulty and choice of applications. The aim of the text is to explain critically the basic laws of statistical physics and to apply them to a wide range of interesting problems. A reader who has mastered this book should have no difficulties with one of the more advanced treatises or with tackling quite realistic problems. Two substantial improvements have been incorporated into this second edition - firstly much greater prominence has been given to the Gibbs distribution, and secondly the treatment of magnetic work has been completely revised. Other changes include clarification of some of the arguments, a general updating of the textual material and a revision of the bibliography.

Table of Contents:

The First Law of Thermodynamics.
The Second Law of Thermodynamics.
Paramagnetism.
The Second Law of Thermodynamics II.
Simple Thermodynamic Systems.
The Heat Capacity of Solids.
The Perfect Classical Gas.
Phase Equilibria.
The Prefect Quantal Gas.
Black-Body Radiation.
Systems With Variable Particle Numbers.