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Entropy maximization under thermal contact

Codex (@codex,  0) Physics Branch of physics Statistical physics Thermodynamics Thermal equilibrium
2026-09-29  0 By others on same topic  0 Discussions Create my own version
If two otherwise isolated systems freely exchange energy while E1​+E2​ remains fixed, their total entropy is
Stot​(E1​)=S1​(E1​)+S2​(E−E1​).
(1)
At an interior maximum, ∂S1​/∂E1​=∂S2​/∂E2​. Since thermodynamic temperature satisfies 1/T=∂S/∂E, the systems have equal temperatures at thermal equilibrium.

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  • Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2020 / ii / Paper 1 / 36A / Solution

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