Abstract
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[extract] 6.1 INTRODUCTION
In Chapter 1, we described two fundamental types of action that are observed in
physical science. The first is created by the laws of thermodynamics, which describe,
in essence, how changes in energy create actions or set processes in train. Because
the field of thermodynamics today extends far beyond this most elementary description
and to avoid any possible confusion, we have termed actions or processes of this
type energy-dependent in character. An example of an energy-dependent action
is that of a ball falling to Earth under the influence of gravity. The gravitational
field is invisible and intangible. However, it induces movement. We can often only
perceive energy gradients in the physical effect that they create.