This textbook addresses the key questions in both classical thermodynamics and statistical thermodynamics: Why are the thermodynamic properties of a nano-size system different from those of a macroscopic system of the same substance? Why and how is entropy defined in thermodynamics, and how is the entropy change calculated when dissipative heat is involved? What is an ensemble and why is its theory so successful? Translated from a highly successful Chinese book, this English edition contains many updated sections and several new ones. They include the introduction of the grand canonical...

This textbook addresses the key questions in both classical thermodynamics and statistical thermodynamics: Why are the thermodynamic properties of a nano-size system different from those of a macroscopic system of the same substance? Why and how is entropy defined in thermodynamics, and how is the entropy change calculated when dissipative heat is involved? What is an ensemble and why is its theory so successful? Translated from a highly successful Chinese book, this English edition contains many updated sections and several new ones. They include the introduction of the grand canonical...