The Four Laws of Thermodynamics
• 0th Law of Thermodynamics
The Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics states that if two systems are in thermodynamic equilibrium with a third system, the two original systems are in thermal equilibrium with each other. Basically, if system (A) is in thermal equilibrium (The condition under which two substances in physical contact with each other exchange no heat energy) with system C and system B is also in thermal equilibrium with system C, system A and system B are in thermal equilibrium with each other. The credit for formulating the law goes to Ralph H. Fowler.
• 1st Law of Thermodynamics – Conservation of energy.
The First Law of Thermodynamics states that energy can be
converted from one form to another with the interaction of
heat, work and internal energy, but it cannot be created nor
destroyed, under any circumstances, this is a firm universal
law developed in1860
o Conservation of Energy
o First Law of Thermodynamics
• 2nd Law of Thermodynamics – Entropy in time will increase> The Second Law of Thermodynamics states that the state of entropy of the entire universe, as an isolated system, will always increase over time. The second law also states that the changes in the entropy in the universe can never be negative. The second law of thermodynamics states that the entropy in an isolated system always increases. Any isolated system spontaneously evolves towards thermal equilibrium the state of maximum entropy of the system.”
• Both Rudolf Clausius and Scottish physicist William Thomson developed this law also in 1860.
• 3rd Law of Thermodynamics
• The 3rd law of thermodynamics will essentially allow us to quantify the absolute amplitude of entropies. It says that when we are considering a totally perfect (100% pure) crystalline structure, at absolute zero (0 Kelvin), it will have no entropy (this means that the object will not go from low to high entropy or from order to disorder. Third law of thermodynamics states that the entropy of a system approaches a constant value as the temperature approaches absolute zero.”
Entropy commences as low entropy or a state of order to High entropy as disorder. The universe and everything in it abide by all of the laws religiously.
