UNIT-I

BASIC CONCEPTS AND FIRST LAW

 THERMODYNAMICS
Thermodynamics can be defined as the ‘science of energy’

Name Thermodynamics originates from two greek words threme

(heat) and dynamics (motion or power)
It deals with energy and its transformation including heat, work
and physical properties of substances.
It describes state and changes in state of physical systems
Thermodynamics plays an important role in the design of
automobile engines, compressors, turbines, refrigerators, jet
engines, solar collectors and nuclear power plant.
 THERMODYNAMIC SYSTEMS
• System: A system is a finite quantity of matter or a

prescribed region of space

• Surrounding: The region outside the system is called the
surrounding or environment
• Boundary: The real or imaginary surface that separates
the system from the surroundings is called the boundary
 TYPES OF SYSTEMS

 Closed and open systems

 Isolated System
 Adiabatic System
 Homogeneous and heterogeneous system
Closed system (control mass) :
If the boundary of the system is impervious to the flow of
matter, it is called a closed system.
Closed system has the following characteristics

i. It consists of a fixed amount of mass and no mass can cross its

boundary, i.e., no mass can enter or leave a closed system
ii.The volume of a closed system may vary and hence its
boundary is movable
iii.The energy in the form of work or heat can cross the boundary