First Law of Thermodynamics

Main Idea

The First Law of Thermodynamics is another way to state Conservation of Energy and The Energy Principle. Hence, if needed, review those topics before diving into The First Law of Thermodynamics. Heat, the transfer of thermal energy, and internal energy, the energy possessed by the constituents of the system, are forms of energy, just like Kinetic Energy and Potential Energy. We can now extend the scope of the Law of Conservation of Mechanical Energy from Work and external potential and kinetic energy to Heat and internal energy. The First Law of Thermodynamics states: although energy comes in various forms, the total quantity of energy stays the same, and the energy disappearing in one form must appear simultaneously in other forms.

Mathematical Model

The First Law of Thermodynamics states:

The change in internal energy of a system is equal to the heat added/taken away from the system plus the work done on the system/minus the work done by the system:

[math]\displaystyle{ \Delta U_{system} = Q + W_{on system} \quad \Delta U_{system} = Q - W_{by system} }[/math]

[math]\displaystyle{ Q }[/math] and [math]\displaystyle{ W }[/math] are qualitatively energy in transit from the source to the receiver.

The work done on a system is equal to the negative of the work done by the system:

[math]\displaystyle{ W_{on system} = -W_{by system} }[/math]

The First Law of Thermodynamics can also be stated in a more general fashion as:

The change in total energy of the system is equal to the heat added/taken away from the system plus the work done on the system/minus the work done by the system:

[math]\displaystyle{ \Delta E_{total} = \Delta PE + \Delta KE + \Delta U \quad \Delta E_{total} = Q + W }[/math], where

[math]\displaystyle{ \Delta PE = }[/math] change in potential energy of the system

[math]\displaystyle{ \Delta KE = }[/math] change in kinetic energy of the system

[math]\displaystyle{ \Delta U = }[/math] change in internal energy of the system

Therefore:

[math]\displaystyle{ \Delta PE + \Delta KE + \Delta U = Q + W }[/math]

The quantity [math]\displaystyle{ \Delta PE + \Delta KE }[/math] is usually considered [math]\displaystyle{ 0 }[/math] by The Energy Principle, leading to the previous equation of The First Law of Thermodynamics..

Computational Model

Insert Computational Model here

Examples

Simple

Middling

Difficult

Connectedness

1. How is this topic connected to something that you are interested in?

In physics, I've always encountered the subject of "Thermodynamics" with excitement. I always loved to deal with Temperatures and [math]\displaystyle{ mC \Delta T }[/math] is the equation that I enjoy utilizing the most. Being able to explain the mechanism of our fingers instantly turning cold as they touch the ice or in reverse, our hands warming up by simply holding a cup of hot cocoa as the flow of heat from a hotter object to colder object is inspring. Plus, there are even specific quantitative relationships that exist between the Heat, Work, and internal energy, and we are able to apply them exactly into our daily lives, thus the science of "Thermodynamics" is indeed extremely empowering!

2. How is it connected to your major?

I major in Chemical Engineering. There are two-semesters worth of curriculum dedicated solely to "Thermodynamics" in Chemical Engineering. The fundamental laws of Thermodynamics embody mathematical deduction to a network of equations which can be applied in all branches of science and engineering. Chemical Engineers provide solutions to a wide range of problems and, many of them have to do with calculating the Heat and Work for various physical and chemical processes. Thus, "Thermodynamics" is one of the skeletal parts of Chemical Engineering.

3. Is there an interesting industrial application?

Thermodynamics is relevant in the energy, transportation, petrochemical, and HVAC industries.

History

James P. Joule's experiments with Heat and Work made major contributions to the formation of the modern concept of Heat. Joule put certain amounts of mercury, water, and oil into an insulated container and mixed the liquid using a rotating stirrer. He carefully measured how much work was done by the stirrer to the liquid and the change in temperature that the liquid experienced. Joule discovered that for a particular fluid, a fixed amount of Work is required per unit mass in order to raise its Temperature by one degree. Joule established that Heat is a form of energy and that there is a quantitative relationship between Heat and Work.

The science of Thermodynamics originated in the 19th century in order to explain the mechanism of steam engines. The term 'Thermodynamics' means power developed from Heat, and Thermodynamics deals with the relationship between Heat and other forms of energy. One can apply Thermodynamics to a problem, beginning with identifying a body of matter called the system. A system's Thermodynamic state is defined by several macroscopic properties that depend on the fundamental dimensions such as time, temperature, mass, length, etc.

A Computational Model

http://jersey.uoregon.edu/vlab/Thermodynamics/

This virtual experiment gives you visual representation of thermal equilibrium and how it is reached when beginning with different initial conditions.