Law of Thermodynamics in AP Environmental Science

Definition

The Law of Thermodynamics refers to a set of principles that describe the behavior and transfer of energy in systems. It states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred or transformed.

Related terms

Energy Flow: This term describes how energy moves through an ecosystem, from producers to consumers and eventually decomposers.

Entropy:

Entropy is a measure of disorder or randomness in a system. In ecosystems, entropy increases over time as energy is lost as heat and organisms break down.

Trophic Levels:

Trophic levels refer to different levels in a food chain or food web where organisms obtain their energy. Producers are at the first trophic level, followed by primary consumers (herbivores), secondary consumers (carnivores), and so on.