Thermodynamics and Relativity: A Revised Interpretation of the Concepts of Reversibility and Irreversibility

2007/10/30 by Jean-Louis Tane, Tane, Jean-Louis
Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics #FOS: Physical sciences #General Physics (physics.gen-ph) #Quantum Mechanics and Applications #Relativity and Gravitational Theory

paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.0710.5657

openalex publication_date 2007/10/30 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28

Abstract

It is generally admitted in thermodynamics that, for a given change in volume, the work done by a system is greater in conditions of reversibility than in conditions of irreversibility. If the basic conventions of physics are strictly respected, it seems that this proposition needs to be reversed. Beyond this formal aspect, the discussion consolidates the idea that thermodynamics and relativity are closely connected.

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