Entropia estatística e o ensino da segunda lei da termodinâmica

Abstract

In this work we evaluate a proposal for teaching the second law of ther modynamics, based on the statistical concept of entropy and suitable for different levels of teaching. The teaching proposal was applied in high-school classes, basic courses for future physics and chemistry teachers, advanced classes for future physics teachers, and a graduate (master’s) course in physics education. For our analysis, we compared classes that followed the statistical approach with classes that had the conventional (macroscopic) presentation of the second law of thermodynamics. The comparison was carried out by the application of a research based conceptual test on thermodynamics. The results showed that the statistical approach led to a significant improvement in the understanding of the second law by students of basic and high-school courses, with repercussions even on other topics of thermodynamics. For more advanced courses, we did not find statistically measurable evidence of these effects, possibly due to the small size of the studied groups.