Uma representação diagramática para o formalismo de formas diferenciais aplicado às relações de Maxwell da termodinâmica

Abstract

The study of Thermodynamics is of fundamental importance for understanding the Universe around us. Consequently, a solid grasp of its laws and results is desirable for any professional associated with the Natural Sciences. Unfortunately, after the initial contact at an introductory level, students often encounter no other discipline that deepens their knowledge of this highly relevant physical theory. That being said, the objective of this research is the systematic study of axiomatic Thermodynamics; its deepening in relation to the introductory references commonly used at the university level; the re-derivation of the Maxwell relations within the geometric formalism of differential forms; and their subsequent representation using modern diagrammatic techniques. Through this, we intend to create a modern and mathematically robust material (monograph, article, and/or poster) written in Portuguese to describe the Maxwell relations of Thermodynamics. This pedagogical material is constructed based on David Ausubel’s Meaningful Learning Theory. Our aim, therefore, is to make such results more accessible to a larger number of undergraduate students within the Lusophone community.