Carnot's contribution to thermodynamics

1974/08/01 by Martin J. Klein · 1 voice
Physics and Astronomy · Engineering · Arts and Humanities · #Advanced Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics #Phase Equilibria and Thermodynamics #Philosophy and History of Science

paper · doi:10.1063/1.3128802

openalex publication_date 1974/08/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/05/21

Abstract

Sadi Carnot's first and only scientific work was published just one hundred and fifty years ago. It initiated the development of the classical thermodynamics that James Clerk Maxwell characterized so well as “a science with secure foundations, clear definitions, and distinct boundaries.” The role Carnot's ideas played in developing that science is the subject of this article.

Discussions

• From our archives: "At first almost ignored and unread, Sadi Carnot's analysis of heat engines—published 150 years ago—contained ideas and methods that were to be developed later by Clausius and Thom [bsky, 2 points, 0 comments]

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