Classical analytical mechanics and entropy production

J. Silverberg, Northeastern University
A. Widom, Northeastern University

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Originally posted at http://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0701096v1. Preprint of an article published in American Journal of Physics, v.75 no.11, 2007.

Abstract

The usual canonical Hamiltonian or Lagrangian formalism of classical mechanics applied to macroscopic systems describes energy conserving adiabatic motion. If irreversible diabatic processes are to be included, then the law of increasing entropy must also be considered. The notion of entropy then enters into the general classical mechanical formalism. The resulting general formulation and its physical consequences are explored.