3 ms·
Classical thermo (as I learned it in undergrad) works in terms of quantized oscillators, which actually works quite well with quantum mechanics.
by wyager 9y ago
Classical thermo (as I learned it in undergrad) works in terms of quantized oscillators, which actually works quite well with quantum mechanics.
- madhadron 9y agoOh dear. This is a common problem. Classical thermodynamics is a theory in its own right. Statistical mechanics is used to bridge microscopic structure to thermodynamic properties. Unfortunately, physicists don't learn thermodynamics. It's pretty much only taught to mechanical and chemical engineers.
- kgwgk 9y agoThe classical [statistical mechanics] theory is based on classical harmonic oscillators (which can have any frequency/energy). Quantization is introduced by Plank in 1900.