1st Law of Thermodynamics
Definition
The 1st Law of Thermodynamics, also known as the law of energy conservation, states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred or transformed. It emphasizes the principle of conservation of energy within a closed system.
Analogy
Imagine a piggy bank where you can neither create nor destroy money. You can only transfer money from one place to another or transform it into different forms (e.g., coins to bills). Similarly, the 1st Law of Thermodynamics tells us that energy behaves in a similar way - it is conserved and can only change forms.
Related terms
Work: In thermodynamics, work refers to the transfer of energy caused by a force acting on an object over a distance.
Internal Energy: The total potential and kinetic energy possessed by the particles within a system.
Heat Capacity: The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of an object by a certain amount.
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