TABLE OF CONTENTS In teaching, no doubt it is a good general principle to begin at the beginning , but to carry out the same it is necessary to know where that beginning is.
H. Middleton, British mathematician, 1883
The preceding quotation wisely states that in order to begin a new subject from the beginning it is necessary to know where that beginning is. The fundamentals of high-temperature effects on gas dynamic flows are generally not included in most introductory gas dynamics, compressible flow, and aerodynamics texts and classes. Most practicing engineers have not had the luxury of formal instruction in the basics of high-temperature gas dynamics. If you have never studied the physics, chemistry, and gas dynamics of high-tempera-ture gases, then Part 3 of this book is for you. On the other hand, if you have studied and/or worked in the discipline, Part 3 is also for you because you might find new thoughts and new perspectives as you read through the material. In any event, with the present chapter we start at the very beginning of the principles of high-temperature gas dynamics. We will assume that you know nothing about the subject, and our purpose is, by the end of Part 3, to bring you to a certain degree of understanding and confidence that you will feel comfortable reading the literature, both classic and modern, in high-temperature gas dynamics, and that you can more effectively work in the discipline.
Let us start. We begin at the beginning.
