Unlike the traditional approach to thermodynamics, this book begins with a brief exposition of hydrodynamics. At this stage, the development is limited to potential flows, because, until recently, that is all that could be done, but also for didactic reasons. However, the reader will find that the situation has changed radically with the discovery of Conservative Hydrodynamics.At the core of thermodynamics is the Gibbsean minimum energy principle. In this book, it is generalized to include the hydrodynamical degrees of freedom; that is, localized as a field theory of density, pressure, temperature and entropy. The theory is referred to as local thermodynamics, as opposed to traditional, global thermodynamics where the main foundation is the variational principle of Gibbs, with a modification recommended by Prigogine.This book exists because there is (or was) no satisfactory theory of the dynamical metric interacting with extended distributions of matter. It will be shown that any theory of interacting fields that includes the Einsteinian metric must be based on an action principle.This allows us, for the first time, to use 'energy' as a precise concept in vortex dynamics. Sample applications include rotating planets, Couette flow, stresses in fluids (inside the meniscus, negative pressures), immiscible fluids, amongst others.

Relativistic hydrodynamics is a very successful theoretical framework to describe the dynamics of matter from scales as small as those of colliding elementary particles, up to the largest scales in the universe. This book provides an up-to-date, lively, and approachable introduction to the mathematical formalism, numerical techniques, and applications of relativistic hydrodynamics. The topic is typically covered either by very formal or by very phenomenological books, but is instead presented here in a form that will be appreciated both by students and researchers in the field. The topics covered in the book are the results of work carried out over the last 40 years, which can be found in rather technical research articles with dissimilar notations and styles. The book is not just a collection of scattered information, but a well-organized description of relativistic hydrodynamics, from the basic principles of statistical kinetic theory, down to the technical aspects of numerical methods devised for the solution of the equations, and over to the applications in modern physics and astrophysics. Numerous figures, diagrams, and a variety of exercises aid the material in the book. The most obvious applications of this work range from astrophysics (black holes, neutron stars, gamma-ray bursts, and active galaxies) to cosmology (early-universe hydrodynamics and phase transitions) and particle physics (heavy-ion collisions). It is often said that fluids are either seen as solutions of partial differential equations or as "wet". Fluids in this book are definitely wet, but the mathematical beauty of differential equations is not washed out.

A groundbreaking text and reference book on twenty-first-century classical physics and its applications This first-year graduate-level text and reference book covers the fundamental concepts and twenty-first-century applications of six major areas of classical physics that every masters- or PhD-level physicist should be exposed to, but often isn't: statistical physics, optics (waves of all sorts), elastodynamics, fluid mechanics, plasma physics, and special and general relativity and cosmology. Growing out of a full-year course that the eminent researchers Kip Thorne and Roger Blandford taught at Caltech for almost three decades, this book is designed to broaden the training of physicists. Its six main topical sections are also designed so they can be used in separate courses, and the book provides an invaluable reference for researchers. Presents all the major fields of classical physics except three prerequisites: classical mechanics, electromagnetism, and elementary thermodynamics Elucidates the interconnections between diverse fields and explains their shared concepts and tools Focuses on fundamental concepts and modern, real-world applications Takes applications from fundamental, experimental, and applied physics; astrophysics and cosmology; geophysics, oceanography, and meteorology; biophysics and chemical physics; engineering and optical science and technology; and information science and technology Emphasizes the quantum roots of classical physics and how to use quantum techniques to elucidate classical concepts or simplify classical calculations Features hundreds of color figures, some five hundred exercises, extensive cross-references, and a detailed index An online illustration package is available

This textbook provides a strong foundation in the basic thermodynamics needed to analyze real-world engineering applications of thermodynamics in the field of energy systems. Written in a format readable to students new to the subject, this book will also help entrepreneurs venturing into the world of energy and power without a background in mechanical engineering.This book presents the basic theories of thermodynamics by focusing on the application of the subject matter to the most common applications of thermodynamics. It takes real-world problems from the author's over 40 years of experience as a practical, professional engineer and provides in-depth solutions to each problem using concepts the student has learned from earlier chapters. The case studies provide both examples of how thermodynamics is used in state-of-the-art tools to solve the case studies' problems, as well as ideas for future energy-efficient systems.Related Link(s)

Spacetime physics -- Physics in flat spacetime -- The mathematics of curved spacetime -- Einstein's geometric theory of gravity -- Relativistic stars -- The universe -- Gravitational collapse and black holes -- Gravitational waves -- Experimental tests of general relativity -- Frontiers

Calculations of relativistic hydrodynamics are crucial to several areas of current research in the physics of supernovae and stellar collapse. This book provides an overview of the computational framework in which such calculations have been developed, with examples of applications to real physical systems. Beginning with the development of the equations and differencing schemes for special relativistic hydrodynamics, the book stresses the viability of the Euler-Lagrange approach to most astrophysical problems. It details aspects of solving the Einstein equations together with the fluid dynamics for various astrophysical systems in one, two and three dimensions.