Thermodynamics is the branch of physics that studies heat, work, and the transformation of energy from one form to another. Its laws describe limits, such as the impossibility of a perpetual motion machine, that no physical process can cross.
Facts
Founded YearHistorians commonly date the field's start to Sadi Carnot's 1824 analysis of heat engines; the word thermodynamics itself was coined later, by William Thomson (Lord Kelvin) in 1849. Central QuestionHow do the macroscopic laws of thermodynamics, derived for systems near equilibrium, extend to natural systems driven far from equilibrium, where the field's own methods currently fall short? 2 ScopeThermodynamics studies heat, work and temperature and their relation to energy, entropy and the physical properties of matter and radiation. 2 SignificanceFrench physicist Sadi Carnot's 1824 Reflections on the Motive Power of Fire marked the start of thermodynamics as a modern science. Its foundational laws emerged within three decades through the near simultaneous work of William Rankine, Rudolf Clausius and William Thomson, Lord Kelvin, in the 1850s, and thermodynamics now underlies physical chemistry, biochemistry, and chemical and mechanical engineering alike. 2 Connections
Founded By
Source Wikipedia: Thermodynamics
Has Scientist
Gibbs's 1876 to 1878 papers founded chemical thermodynamics; his existing Works In edge to Materials Science, for the phase rule, is left untouched.
Source J. Willard Gibbs (Britannica)
Source James Clerk Maxwell (MacTutor)
Source James Prescott Joule (Britannica)
Source Ludwig Boltzmann (Britannica)
Source Rudolf Clausius (Britannica)
Source Sadi Carnot (Britannica)
Source William Thomson, Baron Kelvin (Britannica)
Has Theory
Source Kelvin Temperature Scale (Britannica)
Source Carnot Cycle (Britannica)
Source Entropy (Britannica)
Source First Law of Thermodynamics (Britannica)
Source Second Law of Thermodynamics (Britannica)
Source Ludwig Boltzmann (MacTutor)
Source Third Law of Thermodynamics (Wikipedia)
Source Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics (Wikipedia)
Studies
Source Sadi Carnot (Britannica)
Source Sadi Carnot (Britannica)
Source Sadi Carnot (Britannica)
Source Sadi Carnot (Britannica)
Source Sadi Carnot (Britannica)
Uses
Calorimeter, Instruments A calorimeter is one of the measurement devices used in the study of thermodynamics.
Source Calorimeter (Wikipedia)
Kelvin, Units Source Kelvin: Introduction (NIST)
Sources
1. Sadi Carnot (Britannica)
2. Wikipedia: Thermodynamics
WikipediaLead section
Thermodynamics is a branch of physics that deals with heat, work, and temperature, and their relation to energy, entropy, and the physical properties of matter and radiation.
- Founded By: Sadi Carnot
View the Source Calorimeter (Wikipedia)
WikipediaUses: Calorimeter, Applications sectionQuote, Uses: Calorimeter, Applications section
It is one of the measurement devices used in the study of thermodynamics, chemistry, and biochemistry.
Kelvin: Introduction (NIST)
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)Uses: KelvinView the Source Reader Challenges (0)
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