First Law of Thermodynamics
Definition
The First Law of Thermodynamics, also known as the law of energy conservation, states that energy cannot be created or destroyed in an isolated system. It can only change forms or be transferred from one object to another.
Analogy
Think of a piggy bank. You start with a certain amount of money (energy) in the bank. You can't create more money out of thin air or make it disappear completely. However, you can transfer money between different accounts or convert it into different forms like coins or bills.
Related terms
Energy Conservation: The principle that states that the total amount of energy in a closed system remains constant over time.
Internal Energy: The sum of all the kinetic and potential energies within a system.
Heat Transfer: The process by which thermal energy is exchanged between objects due to temperature differences.
"First Law of Thermodynamics" appears in:
Subjects (2)
Study guides (1)
Practice Questions (1)
- According to the First Law of Thermodynamics, what happens to energy in a closed system?
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