First Law of Thermodynamics

Total energy transferred to a system by macroscopic forces

Work:
exerted on it by other systems

Work W   F dx done by a gas on a piston

L

A
Work done by a fluid as it expands
Fluid (gas) from V0 to Vf
F
=P A Vf

0 x x
W  P(V) dV
V0

W  F  x  F x  P A x  P V
W0 Energy leaves the system
F x
A W0 Energy feed in the system

x
 First law of thermodynamics:
All systems have an internal energy state function that is changed
by heat transferred to or from the system and by the work
done by or on the system.

nothing but conservation of energy U  Q  W

closed system
internal energy
state function Energy transferred by
macroscopic mechanical
 means
Energy transferred by
Q non-macroscopic mechanical
W means
Q
A
 Joule’s experiment: the mechanical equivalent of heat

What do we learn from the experiment

1
-dissipative work Wdis done
-no heat flow Q
U  Q  W
 Wd
 (mleft  mright ) gh
-change in U measured
by change in temperature
(V=const.)
2
-same change in U
could be created by a
heat flow Q
Joule's Paddle-Wheel Apparatus 1849

Change of internal energy U in a dissipative process is the same as if

there had been a heat flow Q into the system of equal magnitude to Wd.

click for virtual experiment

Application of 1. law in a free expansion experiment

V1 ,Ts V2 ,Tf
Thermal insulation
gas
no heat flow

Q0
=:adiabatic process

fixed walls no work done by the container W=0

1. law: U  Q  W  0
U(Ts , V1 )  U(Tf , V2 )  U(Ts , V2 )

ideal gas

U=U(T) for the ideal gas only