History Of Thermodynamics

The dramatic episode of thermodynamics was progress of human intellectual mind. Difficult phase of episode is clarification of misconception that arises from imperfect design modeling or misunderstanding of basics of thermodynamics or mechanics. History of thermodynamics include the history of physics, chemistry and science in broad-spectrum.  Development of thermodynamics led to the discovery of classical mechanics, chemical mechanics and kinetics, magnetism and quantum mechanics discovery. In ancient days heat energy is considered in terms of fire. Around 3000 B.C. Egyptians worshipped heat as mythology origin.

Thermodynamic invention started with the steam engine designing during the year 1700. Benjamin Thompson introduced quantitative study by his cannon boring experiments to convert work energy in to heat energy in the year 1798. Similar experiments were carried out by Humphry Davy by his ice rubbing experiments in the year 1799. In 1824, Sadi Carnot gave an idea regarding cycle and the principle of reversible cyclic engine. He stated the mechanism of operation is dependent on reservoir temperature and absolutely not on particle. Conservation of energy was published in the year 1842 by Mayer. Later in 1847, conservation of energy was formulated by Helmholtz. First law of thermodynamics was given by James Prescott during the year 1843-1848. As an honorary the mechanical term of J refers to James Prescott and J is unit of heat measurement.

In correlation with Carnot cycle, Lord Kelvin developed absolute cycle scale in the year 1848. The basics of first law of thermodynamics and second law of thermodynamics were developed in the 1850 by Rudolf J. Clausius. He has introduced a term called internal energy, U.  Clausius defined laws of thermodynamics in 1865. Concept of chemical potential was introduced by Josiah Willard Gibbs in 1875. Max Planck stated second law of thermodynamics in 1897. Thermodynamic theory was under development from 1700 to 1900 after a painful experiment. Classical thermodynamics was published in 1900. Quantum mechanics was introduced in 1905 by Einstein and Debye.

Questions:

• Give timeline of temperature and heat concept history.
• Give concise history of thermodynamics.
• Write short note on birth of modern thermodynamics.