THERMO Spoken Here! ~ J. Pohl © ( A0200~1/15) | ( A0300 - Erotosthanes Measures Earth) |
Please read the dictionary definitions of “abstract, axiom, and construct.”
Today's power of science and engineering is an accumulation of efforts at understanding dating back to prehistory. At the very basis, engineers of pyramids and the first cars learned in much the same manner as we learn, that is by and through observation and perception. As a beginning, a time in prehistory to begin our study, we select an ancient time when physical reality and its events were first encapsulated into three abstract ideas:
Existence: A primitive idea, a narrow view is that existence means matter. All that exists is matter and what is not matter, does not exist. The first step of any physical analysis is to select imaginary but specific matter to be the system. The concept, "imaginary but specific" is an approach used in physics and thermodynamics.
Coexistence: Space, or extent, encompasses the idea of co-existence. Matter is said to occupy space and to coexist with other matter in all of space. - the universe.
Change: Time is our abstract of change. We are aware that we live and grow. We and matter change in time. We and all physical things exist in a continuation of time.
An abstract is a gathering of ideas, observations, and knowledge of specific facts or aspects into a single category. Perhaps the grandest abstract is life. It is difficult for one person to tell another what life is. Other abstracts (used by science) are: system, energy, heat, work, and property; to name a few. Also the basic method of thermodynamics, the system approach, is an abstraction.
The beginning level of thermodynamics (that discipline of ideas thermodynamics builds upon) is called mechanics. A system is an idealization of physical matter. Throughout history all theoretical investigations of reality have used greatly simplified models of the supposed relevant physical matter: the system. Matter, in actuality being most difficult to describe, is always studied by some model. The first and simplest systems studied were called the "particle" or "point mass" of mechanics. This text will call the model: the BODY.
The great advancement of science and engineering is testimony to the many accomplishments of our inquisitive ancestors. What they learned and what we learn today occurs by and through our observations and perceptions. Scientists and engineers, then and now, view the essence of physical reality to be encapsulated in three abstract ideas: Existence, Coexistence and Change.