thermal equilibrium
Heat transfer ceases
Thermal equilibrium is the state reached when two or more objects in contact stop exchanging heat because they've reached the same temperature.
A cold drink left on the counter eventually reaches thermal equilibrium with the room—it warms until there's no temperature difference driving further heat transfer.
The concept is fundamental to thermodynamics.
Quantified chaos in systems
- heat transferMovement of thermal energy
- conductionHeat transfer through contact
- convectionHeat transfer via motion
- radiationEnergy propagation through space
isothermal · calorimetry · microstates · kinetic theory · heat capacity · specific heat · latent heat · enthalpy
Energy flow between temperatures
- isothermalAt uniform temperature
- thermometerHeat-measuring instrument
- ambient temperatureHeat of surroundings
- heat flowMovement of thermal energy
cooling · warming · room temperature · heat dissipation · heat sink
Thermal transfer prevention
- heat exchangerTransfers thermal energy between media
- cooling systemHeat management mechanism
- HVACIndoor climate management
- heat sinkDevice absorbing component warmth
Reaching a balanced state
- stasisState of inactivity
- stabilityResistance to displacement
- constancyUnchanging faithfulness over time
- uniformityState of being identical
steady · stationary · unchanging · balance · asymptotic · settling
Maintaining stable internal heat
- homeostasisBiological internal stability maintenance
- body temperatureInternal heat level
- hypothermiaDangerously low body temperature
- hyperthermiaDangerously elevated body temperature
fever · sweating · shivering · vasodilation · vasoconstriction · metabolism · warm-blooded · cold-blooded
entropy
Quantified chaos in systems
- heat transferMovement of thermal energy
- conductionHeat transfer through contact
- convectionHeat transfer via motion
radiation · isothermal · calorimetry · microstates · kinetic theory · heat capacity · specific heat · latent heat · enthalpy · phase transition
heat exchange
Energy flow between temperatures
- isothermalAt uniform temperature
- thermometerHeat-measuring instrument
- ambient temperatureHeat of surroundings
heat flow · cooling · warming · room temperature · heat dissipation · heat sink
insulation
Thermal transfer prevention
- heat exchangerTransfers thermal energy between media
- cooling systemHeat management mechanism
- HVACIndoor climate management
heat sink · thermostat · climate control · passive cooling · R-value
equilibration
Reaching a balanced state
- stasisState of inactivity
- stabilityResistance to displacement
- constancyUnchanging faithfulness over time
uniformity · steady · stationary · unchanging · balance · asymptotic · settling
thermoregulation
Maintaining stable internal heat
- homeostasisBiological internal stability maintenance
- body temperatureInternal heat level
- hypothermiaDangerously low body temperature
hyperthermia · fever · sweating · shivering · vasodilation · vasoconstriction · metabolism · warm-blooded · cold-blooded · ectotherm
- heatheat transfer, heatwave, radiation, convection, insulators
- balance systemshomeostasis, dynamic balance, steady state, steady-state, feedback loops
- equilibriumbalance, steady state, stasis, stability, equilibria
- Heat Scienceheat transfer, heat capacity, heat flow, specific heat, latent heat
- statistical mechanicsentropy, phase transition, critical point, fluctuations, free energy
- thermodynamicsentropy, enthalpy, heat transfer, free energy, heat capacity
thermal equilibriumheat transfer
Movement of thermal energy
heat flow · conduction · convection · radiation · heat conduction