A novel pedagogical method for Integrated Circuit and systems education using the Variational Thermodynamic principle

Unquestionably, one of the most important developments in this century has been the avalanche advancement of Integrated Circuits technology incorporating solid state systems into areas never before imagined. Students face special challenges to understand these complex systems using conventional instructional methods. We here present a new pedagogical approach using the Variational Thermodynamic principle to analyze and educate engineering students the quasi-static behavior of such circuit and systems at a level of detail not otherwise available either experimentally or by standard methods. Application of this method is expected to enhance students´ grasp of the topic up to the design level.