thermodynamics
Energy transfer physics
Thermodynamics is the branch of physics dealing with heat, energy, and work—how they transfer and transform.
The laws of thermodynamics govern everything from engines to ecosystems to the eventual heat death of the universe.
The second law of thermodynamics says entropy always increases.
The word applies loosely to any system's energy flow: the thermodynamics of a relationship.
Transferred thermal energy
- workEffort toward a goal
- jouleSI energy quantity
- calorieUnit of thermal energy
- kineticRelating to motion
potential · enthalpy · conservation · transformation · transfer · flow · radiation · conduction
Absence of organization
- randomnessLack of predictable pattern
- irreversibilityState of being permanent
- second lawEntropy inevitably rises
- arrow of timeTime's one-way nature
Boltzmann · microstates · probability · degradation · chaos · mixing · diffusion · spontaneity
Measured heat intensity
- pressureForce upon contact
- volumeAmount of space filled
- densityMass-to-volume ratio
- specific heatEnergy needed per degree
heat capacity · compressibility · activity · intensive · extensive · ideal gas · van der Waals
Entropy inevitably rises
- third lawForces come in pairs
- conservationPreventing waste or loss
- CarnotFrench thermodynamics founder
- KelvinScottish masculine name
absolute zero · perpetual motion · efficiency · heat engine · refrigerator · heat pump
Machine producing motion
- refrigerationHeat removal for preservation
- HVACIndoor climate management
- power plantFacility producing electrical energy
- turbineBlade-driven energy converter
boiler · compressor · heat exchanger · insulation · cryogenics · combustion · metallurgy · chemical engineering
Exchange-free bounded region
- open systemSystem with external exchanges
- boundaryLine marking a limit
- surroundingsArea around something
- isothermalAt uniform temperature
Steadiness or amount owed
- steady stateUnchanging system condition
- homeostasisBiological internal stability maintenance
- chemical equilibriumMatched opposing reaction rates
- reversibleAble to be undone
stability · relaxation · uniformity · equilibration · metastable
heat
Transferred thermal energy
kinetic · potential · enthalpy · conservation · transformation · transfer · flow · radiation · conduction · convection
disorder
Absence of organization
- randomnessLack of predictable pattern
- irreversibilityState of being permanent
- second lawEntropy inevitably rises
arrow of time · Boltzmann · microstates · probability · degradation · chaos · mixing · diffusion · spontaneity · information
temperature
Measured heat intensity
specific heat · heat capacity · compressibility · activity · intensive · extensive · ideal gas · van der Waals
second law
Entropy inevitably rises
- third lawForces come in pairs
- conservationPreventing waste or loss
- CarnotFrench thermodynamics founder
Kelvin · absolute zero · perpetual motion · efficiency · heat engine · refrigerator · heat pump
engine
Machine producing motion
- refrigerationHeat removal for preservation
- HVACIndoor climate management
- power plantFacility producing electrical energy
turbine · boiler · compressor · heat exchanger · insulation · cryogenics · combustion · metallurgy · chemical engineering · desalination
closed system
Exchange-free bounded region
- open systemSystem with external exchanges
- boundaryLine marking a limit
- surroundingsArea around something
isothermal · isobaric · process · reservoir
balance
Steadiness or amount owed
- steady stateUnchanging system condition
- homeostasisBiological internal stability maintenance
- chemical equilibriumMatched opposing reaction rates
reversible · stability · relaxation · uniformity · equilibration · metastable
- chemistryatom, atoms, organic chemistry, molecule, chemistry
- scientific theoriesatomic theory, evolution, big bang theory, quantum theory, string theory
- geochemistryisotope geochemistry, biogeochemistry, trace element, trace elements, isotopes
- Chemical Theoryatomic theory, molecular theory, kinetic theory, quantum theory, ligand field theory
- energyelectricity, power, oil, fuel, gas
- physicsphysics, momentum, atom, acceleration, gravity
thermodynamicsmechanics
Science of motion
optics · electromagnetism · quantum mechanics · classical mechanics · acoustics
- thermodynamic cycleRepeating energy conversion sequence
- laws of thermodynamicsFundamental energy behavior principles
- second law of thermodynamicsDisorder inevitably increases