Richard C. Tolman

Richard C. Tolman was an influential physicist known for his work in thermodynamics and statistical mechanics. He contributed to understanding how systems reach equilibrium, a state where macroscopic properties remain constant over time. Tolman’s insights into the relationships between temperature, energy, and entropy helped clarify how systems exchange heat and reach a balance. He also introduced concepts like the "Tolman length," which relates to particles in thermal equilibrium, impacting both thermodynamics and cosmology. His work remains foundational in physics, linking microscopic behavior and macroscopic observations of physical systems.