laws of thermodynamics
Heat transfer principles
The laws of thermodynamics are fundamental principles governing energy and heat in physical systems.
The first law states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed.
The second law holds that entropy—disorder—tends to increase in closed systems, explaining why heat flows from hot to cold and why perpetual motion machines are impossible.
The third law establishes that absolute zero temperature cannot be reached.
These laws constrain everything from engines to chemical reactions to the fate of the universe.
Effort toward a goal
- jouleSI energy quantity
- calorieUnit of thermal energy
- powerEnergy transfer rate
- efficiencyProductive without waste
heat engine · isothermal · enthalpy · kinetic energy · potential energy · chemical energy · energy conversion · energy transfer
Measured heat intensity
- heat transferMovement of thermal energy
- conductionHeat transfer through contact
- convectionHeat transfer via motion
- radiationEnergy propagation through space
heat capacity · specific heat · latent heat · calorimetry · absolute zero · third law · heat flow · temperature scale
Exchange-free bounded region
- open systemSystem with external exchanges
- surroundingsArea around something
- boundaryLine marking a limit
- ideal gas lawEquation linking gas properties
Absence of organization
- randomnessLack of predictable pattern
- irreversibilityState of being permanent
- second lawEntropy inevitably rises
- arrow of timeTime's one-way nature
Unchanging system condition
- chemical equilibriumMatched opposing reaction rates
- metastableStable but not permanently
- stabilityResistance to displacement
- equilibrationReaching a balanced state
work
Effort toward a goal
efficiency · heat engine · isothermal · enthalpy · kinetic energy · potential energy · chemical energy · energy conversion · energy transfer · perpetual motion
temperature
Measured heat intensity
- heat transferMovement of thermal energy
- conductionHeat transfer through contact
- convectionHeat transfer via motion
radiation · heat capacity · specific heat · latent heat · calorimetry · absolute zero · third law · heat flow · temperature scale · Kelvin
closed system
Exchange-free bounded region
- open systemSystem with external exchanges
- surroundingsArea around something
- boundaryLine marking a limit
disorder
Absence of organization
- randomnessLack of predictable pattern
- irreversibilityState of being permanent
- second lawEntropy inevitably rises
arrow of time · microstates · heat death · degradation · probability
heat death
Universe's final entropic state
- Big BangUniverse's explosive origin
steady state
Unchanging system condition
- chemical equilibriumMatched opposing reaction rates
- metastableStable but not permanently
- stabilityResistance to displacement
laws of thermodynamicssuggestions
Proposed ideas or advice
guidelines · recommendations · rules of thumb · best practices · conventions
laws of thermodynamicspseudoscience
Bogus methodology posing as factual
junk science · superstition · wishful thinking · perpetual motion · folk beliefs
laws of thermodynamicsmagic
Supernatural or illusory power
miracles · supernatural phenomena · divine intervention · sorcery · alchemy
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