A little question to the scientifically educated crowd...

M

Member of Khans

Vault Dweller
So, the other day while I was sitting in Physics for Biologist, a question occurred to my mind.
Obviously there are quite some scientists and engineers among our forum members, so maybe someone is able to answer this...

Does ANYBODY actually understand thermodynamics?!?

I mean, really, actually, completely...
 
It's like moving particles create friction, which in turn create heat, which can then be harnessed as usable energy... ya, I'm a journalism major. It's the idea behind a steam engine basically, right?
 
Good one, Rosh. Old but good. :D

SnaX said:
It's like moving particles create friction, which in turn create heat, which can then be harnessed as usable energy... ya, I'm a journalism major. It's the idea behind a steam engine basically, right?
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Yeah, I got it to this point. Hell, I know how a stupid Stirling engine works.
But seriously: the theory behind thermodynamics, wtf?

Sorry guys, I'm just a bit frustrated at the moment.

Okay, back to the books.
 
I scored a 4/5 on the Thermodynamics exam in uni, I think I pretty much got it. PM me or something.
 
I only studied it at a superficial level for biochemistry. I glossed over the maths, so I wouldn't say I have the best understanding of it.
 
The Overseer said:
I scored a 4/5 on the Thermodynamics exam in uni, I think I pretty much got it. PM me or something.
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Thanks, but my gf managed to explain the whole thing to me this morning. Yeah, having a nerdy girlfriend rocks, I tell you!

Btw: Was the second-best in thermodynamics the last term. I barely passed. 95 % of the class failed. So, one writing a rather good test does not mean one really got into it.
 
Thermodynamics and I have a tenuous relatonship. We agree that when we see each other out on the town we politely ignore each other.

Otherwise, what's on your mind?
 
Murdoch said:
Otherwise, what's on your mind?
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Uh, I didn't really want to make a point here. I asked just out of interest. Because nobody seems to get this damn topic, everybody fails the stupid test, and my aunt (Diploma in materials science) told me I will get used to not understanding anything in the next semesters.
Seems pretty much thermodynamics is like Rammstein: a lot of people think it's cool, but nobody understood it.
 
"Thermodynamics" is not nearly as cool a word as "thermonuclear", although both amount to moving particles. I think :look:
 
Re: A little question to the scientifically educated crowd..

Member of Khans said:
So, the other day while I was sitting in Physics for Biologist, a question occurred to my mind.
Obviously there are quite some scientists and engineers among our forum members, so maybe someone is able to answer this...

Does ANYBODY actually understand thermodynamics?!?

I mean, really, actually, completely...
Click to expand...

Thermodynamics as in laws of energy right ? ... think wikipedia has a good explanation of thermodynamics. though i think the section about free energy entrophy is rather badly explained. I say that thermodynamics is pretty well understood ... depends on what you would classify as understood. personally one can't really truly understand.

thermo = energy
dynamics = kinetics of particles ... thats what i think it means :wink:
 
Member of Khans said:
and my aunt (Diploma in materials science) told me I will get used to not understanding anything in the next semesters.
Click to expand...

[sarcasm]

Wow, your educational system is really top-notch!

[/sarcasm]


How come I studied thermodynamics and understood it then?
 
The Overseer said:
Wow, your educational system is really top-notch!
Click to expand...
I actually think it's quite okay. It it a bit bureaucratic and could be better in certain things, but overall I don't have to complain.
It has a pretty good reputation, at least.

How come I studied thermodynamics and understood it then?
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You have a sense for physics? You had a good teacher? Maybe?
 
I've been studying Thermodynamics for quite a while now and IMO it's relatively simple. Just a bunce of rules that things follow and once you've got those, you're done!

If you want difficult, try advanced quantum mechanics... there's something to fry your brain.
 
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