Thermodynamics is the science of energy and energy transformations. The name comes from the Greek words for heat and power. Some key points:
- Thermodynamics studies the transformation of various forms of energy, especially heat and work, and relationships between properties of matter.
- A fundamental law is the conservation of energy principle - energy cannot be created or destroyed, only changed from one form to another.
- Thermodynamics emerged in the industrial revolution to study engines and energy conversion. The first and second laws were established in the 1850s.
- Properties, processes, state, equilibrium, closed and open systems, intensive/extensive properties, and the equation of state are some core concepts in ther