Argues that it is advantageous to adopt a more modern approach that systematically builds on students' knowledge of the atomic structure of matter and elementary mechanics. (Author/CCM)

Presents an approach to combine the empirical approach of classical thermodynamics with the structural approach of statistical mechanics. Topics covered include dynamical foundation of the first law; mechanical work, heat, radiation, and the first law; thermal equilibrium; thermal processes; thermodynamic probability; entropy; the second law;…