Thermodynamics is the branch of science which deals with the relationship of heat with the other forms of energy it basically defines the conversion of thermal energy into other forms of energy and its effect on matter. The behaviour of the quantities of thermodynamics deal is ruled by the four laws of thermodynamics.
LAWS OF THERMODYNAMICS
There are four laws of thermodynamics. They are:
- Zeroth law of thermodynamics: if there are two systems that are in thermal equilibrium with a third system, then they are deemed to be in a thermal equilibrium to each other. This law comes in handy while defining the notion of temperature.
- First law of thermodynamics: it is also known as the Law of conservation of energy and it states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed in any isolated system. This implies heat as a form of energy. It also states that energy of a system is equal to the rise in thermal energy and the work done on the system.
- Second law of thermodynamics: it states that the entropy (measure of the system’s thermal energy per unit of available temperature for doing useful work) of an isolated system increases in a natural thermodynamic process. It also makes believe the fact that the heat cannot be transferred from a body of low temperature to that of a body of high temperature without adding energy to it.
- Third law of thermodynamics: it states that the entropy of a system would remain constant as the temperature becomes zero. Entropy always has a positive value.
The laws play an extremely important role in the branch of physics but are also applicable in varied other branches of science.
APPLICATION OF THERMODYNAMICS
Earlier, thermodynamics was applied to mechanically heat engines but was later used to study chemical compounds and chemical reactions. Chemical thermodynamics has provided an insight into the chemical reactions world because it studies the role of entropy in those reactions. The statistical thermodynamics statistically predict the collective motion of particles from the particle’s microscopic behaviour. Geometrical thermodynamics, as given by Constantin Caratheodory, gives a mathematical formulation of thermodynamics.
In thermodynamics, the interactions between the large ensembles of objects are studied and also categorised in it. Thermodynamics is studied with reference to the thermodynamics system and the surroundings.
Thermodynamics is used in all the refrigerators, air and gas compressors and power plants. Besides, nearly all kind of vehicles work on the principle of thermodynamics.