The Laws of Thermodynamics

Introduction

Thermodynamics is primarily the study of the relationship between heat and other forms of energy. It extends to the study of the conversion of all forms of energy from one to another. The principles of thermodynamics are important to understand events that occur in nature, to design machines like engines and refrigerators, and to calculate the energy gain or loss in chemical reactions. There are two main laws or principles of thermodynamics.

The First Law of Thermodynamics

Let us first understand the meaning of a System. A system is anything from a simple object or a set of things working together as one interconnected mechanism. For example, a rope and pulley used to hoist equipment is a system. A nuclear reactor, a car’s engine, and even a simple metal object which conducts heat are all considered as systems for the purpose of thermodynamics.

The first law of Thermodynamics is the law of Conservation of Energy. It states that the energy in any System can neither be created nor destroyed. Instead, energy is either converted from one form to another or it is transferred from one system to another.

A gas turbine converts chemical energy in a fuel into thermal (heat) energy. The heat energy is then converted into mechanical energy to do some useful work, like powering an airplane. The total amount of energy from start to end of the working system remains the same. 

Similarly, turning on a switch converts electrical energy into light energy – the light energy is not simply created out of nothing.

The Second Law of Thermodynamics

To understand the second law, we must first understand the term Entropy. Entropy can be defined or understood in many ways –

1. It is a measure of the amount of disorder or randomness in a system
2. It is a measure of how many ways in which the atoms of an object can rearrange themselves (in other words, randomness in a system)
3. It is the amount of energy that is unavailable to do work (in other words, a disorder in a system).

The basic premise is that there is more Randomness in the universe than there is Orderliness. For example, there are many ways to arrange a pack of cards randomly than to organize it in an ordered sequence.

The second law of thermodynamics deals with the natural direction of energy processes. It states that the natural direction of change in a system is towards maximum disorder.

Let us understand this with some examples:

Natural processes as those explained above, are always irreversible and consequently, the overall entropy of the universe always increases. If water is frozen to make ice, the entropy of water decreases, but heat released by the process heats the surrounding air, thereby increasing the overall entropy.

Thermal Equilibrium

If two systems in contact with each other are at the same temperature, then no energy flow will take place between them. The two systems are then said to be in thermal equilibrium with each other.

If you put a bowl of hot water in a refrigerator, the water will start cooling until eventually the temperature of the water is the same as the temperature of the refrigerator. At this point, the cooling process will stop and the two systems will be in thermal equilibrium.

In entropy terms, thermal equilibrium is reached when a system has reached the maximum possible entropy and cannot increase further. For example, a metal rod heated at one end will transfer heat (energy) to the other end of the rod until the entire rod is at a uniform temperature, at which point maximum entropy has been reached and the system is in thermal equilibrium (all molecules are at the same temperature).

Check Point

1. A set of things working together as one interconnected mechanism is referred to as a ______.
2. The first law of Thermodynamics is also known as the law of ______ of Energy.
3. A measure of the amount of disorder or randomness in a system is known as ______.
4. The entropy of a gas is always higher than of a ______, which is always higher than that of a ______.
5. The total entropy in the universe always ______.

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