Thermodynamics: Four Laws That Move the Universe

by Jeffrey C. Grossman (Narrator)

Nothing has had a more profound impact on the development of modern civilization than thermodynamics. Thermodynamic processes are at the heart of everything that involves heat, energy, and work, making an understanding of the subject indispensable for careers in engineering, physical science, biology, meteorology, and even nutrition and culinary arts. Get an in-depth tour of this vital and fascinating science in 24 enthralling lectures suitable for everyone from science novices to experts who wish to review elementary concepts and formulas.

Professor Jeffrey Grossman of MIT uses the four laws of thermodynamics as a launching point to discuss foundational concepts that are critical pillars of science and engineering - ideas such as entropy, chemical potential, Gibbs free energy, enthalpy, osmotic pressure, heat capacity, eutectic melting, and the Carnot cycle. These and other ideas shed light on many phenomena in the natural world, and they are the analytical tools that engineers use to create new devices and technologies. At the end of these lectures, you'll truly appreciate the elegance and importance of thermodynamic principles. Also, you'll have unlocked the secrets to a fascinating aspect of our universe.

PLEASE When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

Genres: Science, Physics, Nonfiction, Audiobook

Audible Audio

Published December 5, 2018

Reviews

[Greg Lawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this would be a review of my engineering thermodynamics and chemistry classes. As a materials engineer interested in environmental applications, Dr. Grossman, pleasantly surprised me with a more comprehensive presentation. Besides the traditional discussion of heat engines, phase changes (solid, liquid, gas)) and chemical reactions, he discusses phase transitions in general. This comprehensive approach seems to be justified by the final lecture on his own exciting research into rechargeable solar thermal fuels and graphene membranes for desalinating water.
The presentation revolves around variations on a few basic equations, so pause and rewind or other review is necessary to get the full picture.
Dr. Grossman dismisses alternative definitions of entropy designed to get a more intuitive grasp of its meaning, essentially insisting entropy means what the equations say. In all fairness, I haven't seen anyone else who tried to give an intuitively satisfying definition of entropy succeed either.

[Alejandro González · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aunque más que un libro son clases grabadas, el formato es conocido y amable y a pesar de que el formato original parecería haber sido en video los experimentos estan descritos de manera eficiente y clara.

[Dennis Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thermodynamics: Four Laws That Move the Universe by Professor Jeffrey Grossman is a very good survey of the study of heat in motion offered by the Teaching Company. I took the audio version offered through Audible, and that may have been a mistake considering that all I could do was listen to formulas and experiments, relying on the play by play description rather than seeing things first hand. The lectures that clarified what entropy was more than justified the course, as I was wrongheaded in my understanding of it. Most of what is explained to you will be intuitively understood if you learned what came before, but if you are struggling to pay attention or to learn, the course may threaten to leave you behind. Grossman does bring up earlier lessons, but not to the extent that will hold your hand. Its more akin to "remember when we covered this? If you don't remember, rewind the course." I am a little wary that I understood most of this, even if it is an introductory course. That makes me think that it might be uselessly general, or I'm just fooling myself.

Well, whatever. I liked it.

88/100

[Juan Rivera · Rating 4 out of 5]

A few days ago I found my father's notes from the university, and I was thinking about the illusion with which he learned about materials, mixtures, solutions and chemical reactions.

Chemical engineering turned him from the son of merchants into a successful middle class who gave much to his wife and children.

But what more difficult concepts. I tried to learn something about them from the audiobook "Thermodynamics: Four Laws That Move the Universe" by Jeffrey C. Grossman of The Great Courses company.

The course is quite complicated, and although it also comes in pdf, the formulas and concepts are not at all simple.

But for a neophyte like me, the surprise and amazement of the properties of the materials did not stop leaning out of my window.

In truth, little I know.

[Leila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok this audiobook is definitely not made for listening only, definitely made to be watched along with the video BUT this course is absolutely fantastic. I teach most of this content and the sequence of topics was not making much sense to me at first, but then it did! I am taking lots of ideas from it to my own lectures and research! And I bought the videos too, definitely worth the price (on sale of course 🤣).

[Hilary Whatley · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was interesting, however, without visuals, some of the content is not easily understandable (especially the math). I really liked his demos - they were so cool, and great for applying the topics of the lessons.

[Shervin Asgari · Rating 2 out of 5]

I heard this as an audiobook, but it was too heavy without being able to see the different experiments. I don't recommend this as audiobook. The content is good if you can also view the video and the pdf

[Dani Pongratz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sadly I listened to the audiobook, so I didn't get to experience the experiments that well, but overall this provides a good overview of thermodynamics, in my case even a great, cause I already had knowledge about the topic and so a few unclarities could be dissolved.

[Arnel Catangay jr. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is good for high school students. Engineering students should prefer textbooks and solve engineering problems.

[Geraldine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Way over my head but enjoyed most of it anyway.

[Robbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I’ll have to read this one again…

Thermo!

[Subjuntivo Subjuntivo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I might be dumb, but this was difficult to follow, even though calculations and formulas are kept (apparently) to the basics, the whole thing got eventually too hard to follow.

[AttackGirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t think this way and have a concept of “black hole” which to me is just spiral fluid void… watch the tub. Now view the whole existence like we breathe the water or air… different

[Kevin Hanks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good material, and continuing my effort to become more familiar with thermodynamics and its concepts. I've found that these concepts are not intuitive to me, so I struggle to internalize them well. These lectures were well thought-out and presented, but as I listened to the audiobook version of them, I think there was quite a bit I missed out on. I would definitely recommend watching the video version of these lectures. I found myself looking up the demonstrations I heard him perform or the equation derivations he did on youtube later on just to follow along better, but I still lost much of the content I'm sure.

All-in-all a great series of lectures, but they ought to be watched, not just listened to.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very entertaining presentation of the underlying principles of thermodynamics. Probably not technical enough for me but still worth the time. Kind of a casual discussion about how thermodynamics works. The last episode was the best. the author talks about his current research in materials for solar fuels and fresh water capture. Sounds really interesting. The best thing this video did was convince me to enroll in the MIT open courseware course on Thermodynamics and Kinetics. So far that course is really good.

[Trenton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very hard to listen to as an audio book. I can't recommend the audiobook but do watch the video series.