Thermodynamics, Science, and Engineering

Chemical engineering thermodynamics balances science and engineering. But when the subject is studied, that balance can be easily upset either in favor of a practical study that ignores scientifically-based generality, consistency, and constraint, or in favor of a scientific study that ignores practical motivation and utility. Beyond the 

The law of gravitation illustrates the principal goal of science to identify, organize, codify, and compress a large amount of information into a concise statement. Another example is Maxwell s proposal that electricity and magnetism can be described by the same set of differential equations. Still another example occurs in linear transport the- 

The broad generalities of science are of such overwhelming importance that they deserve a handy and memorable name we call them the things that are always true. An example is the statement of conservation of mass. Conservation of mass represents economy of thought because it applies to any situation that does not involve nuclear reactions. But to actually use it, we must deduce the precise form that pertains to our problem What substances are involved What are the input and output streams Is the situation a transient or steady state  

---