OVERVIEW

This chapter provides a concise description of the basic concepts and theories underlying classical thermodynamics and heat transfer. Different approaches exist in presenting the subject of thermodynamics. Most engineering textbooks first introduce temperature, then discuss energy, work, and heat, and define entropy afterward. Callen developed an axiomatic structure using a simple set of abstract postulates to combine the physical information that is included in the laws of thermodynamics. ^[1] Continuing the effort pioneered by Keenan and Hatsopoulos, ^[2] Gyftopoulos and Beretta ^[3] developed a logical sequence to introduce the basic concepts with a rigorous definition of each thermodynamic term. Their book has been a great inspiration to the present author in comprehending and teaching thermodynamics. Here, an overview of classical thermodynamics is provided that is somewhat beyond typical undergraduate textbooks. ^{[4] , [5]} Details on the historic development of classical thermodynamics can be found from Bejan ^[6] and Kestin ^[7], and references therein. The basic phenomena and governing equations in energy, mass, and momentum transfer will be presented subsequently in a self-consistent manner without invoking microscopic theories.