THERMODYNAMICS FOR ENGINEERS focuses on outcome-based learning, which has been identified by ABET as an essential aspect of engineering curricula. Learning outcomes are listed at the start of each chapter and identified as completed at relevant places in the text, followed by a summary at the end of each chapter. Authors Kenneth Kroos and Merle Potter bring decades of teaching experience to a clear writing style that describes key concepts without straying from the course. The language of thermodynamics is explained in careful detail so that students can quickly understand the concepts presented and the analysis techniques used. Extensive use of practical examples demonstrates the proper set-up and solution of problems. These skills are then further developed using a wide variety of homework problems. Some homework problems are presented with an increased degree of complexity to allow the instructor to challenge the more accomplished. THERMODYNAMICS FOR ENGINEERS focuses on clearly outlining the role of thermodynamics in "real" engineering. It takes students through clear explanations of concepts, followed by mathematical techniques of analysis and applications of these in solving engineering problems. Review "In general, the writing is clear and to the point without straying. Much of the space it taken up by the examples, which is generally a good approach for thermodynamics. The key point is to design exercises that allow the student to practice without having them look so similar to the examples that the students do not need to think. I believe the text rises to this challenge." "Three positive points about the text: the approach of using examples to motivate students; many examples to show the application of basic concepts; the clear writing style emphasizing the understanding of the concept." About the Author Kenneth A. Kroos has a B.S., M.S., and PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Toledo. He taught for five years at Christian Brothers College in Memphis, Tennessee, served as Student Section Advisor and Chair of the Memphis-Mid-south Section of ASME. Dr. Kroos joined Villanova University in 1982, teaching courses thermodynamics, fluid mechanics and several others. He serves as Assistant Department Chair for the Mechanical Engineering Department, has authored more than fifteen publications in the fields of fluid mechanics, heat transfer, engineering education and computer graphics for flow visualization, performed research in computer graphics for the U. S. Army Ballistics Research Lab, and consulted for a number of companies in the Memphis and Philadelphia areas. Dr. Kroos is a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and a member of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE). He served as Vice President of ASME in 2001 and served a three year term on the Council for Member Affairs. Dr. Merle C. Potter holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and an M.S. in Engineering Mechanics from Michigan Technological University, as well as an M.S. in Aerospace Engineering and a Ph.D. in Engineering Mechanics from the University of Michigan. Dr. Potter taught for 40 years, including 33 of years at Michigan State University where he taught thermodynamics, fluid mechanics and numerous other courses. Dr. Potter has authored and co-authored 35 textbooks, help books, and engineering exam review books. He has specialized in fluid flow stability and energy research. He has received numerous awards, including the Ford Faculty Scholarship, the Teacher-Scholar Award, the ASME Centennial Award, the MSU Mechanical Engineering Faculty Award, and the James Harry Potter Thermodynamics Gold Medal. Dr. Potter is a member of ASEE, ASME, and the American Academy of Mechanics.
