Year: 2018
Type: article
Abstract: We provide a simple and clear verification of the physical need for temperature gradients in equilibrium states when gravitational fields are present. Our argument will be built in a completely kinematic manner, in terms of the gravitational redshift/blueshift of light, together with a relativistic extension of Maxwell’s two column argument. We conclude by showing that it is the universality of the gravitational interaction (the uniqueness of free-fall) that ultimately permits Tolman’s equilibrium temperature gradients without any violation of the laws of thermodynamics.
Authors: Jessica Santiago, Matt Visser
Institution: Victoria University of Wellington
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2803726345