The paper shows that for the case of an ideal gas in the equilibrium state there exists a method for splitting it into portions with different temperatures without energy transfer to or from the environment and without work being done. Compared with the thought experiment known as ‘Maxwell's demon’, in which such splitting is based on sorting specific molecules according to their energy levels, the process described does not require the energy of a specific molecule to be determined. Here the splitting is guided by the average energy of a group of molecules. The paper establishes the fact that the average energy of molecules striking the wall over a period of time is higher than the average energy of all molecules constituting the gas; this fact is what substantiates our method. This explains how a process that may result in extracting a higher temperature portion of the gas in the equilibrium state is generally possible. The paper considers one of the implementations of this process. We also show that groups of molecules may be split off from the gas, the average energy of said groups being lower than the average energy of the gas molecules in total.

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In this article the formula for the resistance force during slow motion of a sphere in an ideal equilibrium gas is discussed, taking into account the velocity distribution of molecules. Using the density function of the velocity distribution of molecules hitting the surface of the body during a certain period of time, an expression for the resistance force is obtained. The resulting expression is compared with the well-known expression in the Stokes law.

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The article contains the analysis of the functioning of the existing economic institutions in the Russian power industry. Determine their significant role in reforming the industry. Systematized kinds of economic institutions involved in the reform process for the period 2003-2011 gg., Highlighted the criteria for assessing the processes of transformation of the industry. It is possible to substantiate the effects of systemically important reforms and the need to take them into account in the further development of the industry.