Laws of

Thermodynamics
Laws of thermodynamics
⚫We have four laws of thermodynamics,
which define fundamental physical
quantities i.e., temperature, energy, and
entropy that characterize thermodynamic
systems and their behaviour under various
circumstances.
They are
⚫Zeroth law of thermodynamics
⚫First law of thermodynamics
⚫Second law of thermodynamics
⚫Third law of thermodynamics
 Getting Started
All of thermodynamics can be expressed in terms of four
quantities
Temperature (T)
Internal Energy (U)
Entropy (S)
Heat (Q)
These quantities will be defined as we progress through the
lesson
Zeroth law of thermodynamics

⚫ If two systems are in thermal

equilibrium with a third system, they
must be in thermal equilibrium with each
other.

⚫This law describes an empirical parameter,

the temperature, as a property of a
system such that systems in thermal
equilibrium with each other have the same
temperature.
First law of thermodynamics
⚫ The increase in internal energy of a closed system is
equal to the heat supplied to the system minus work
done by it.

⚫ First law of thermodynamics is also known as the law

of conservation of energy.

⚫ This states that energy can be neither created nor

destroyed. However, energy can change forms, and
energy can flow from one place to another. The
total energy of an isolated system does not change.

⚫ dUsystem=Q - W
Second law of thermodynamics
⚫ The entropy of any isolated system almost
never decreases. Such systems spontaneously
evolve towards thermodynamic equilibrium that
is the state of maximum entropy of the system.
Equivalently, perpetual motion machines of the
second kind are impossible.

⚫ According to this law, in a reversible heat transfer,

an element of heat transferred, δQ, is the
product of the temperature (T) and its entropy
(S)

⚫ dQ = TdS
Third law of thermodynamics
⚫ The entropy of a system approaches a
constant value as the temperature approaches
absolute zero.
⚫ At zero temperature the system must be in a state
with the minimum thermal energy. This statement
holds true if the perfect crystal has only one state with
minimum energy. Entropy is related to the number of
possible microstates according to:
S = kBln Ω
Where S is the entropy of the system, kB Boltzmann's
constant, and Ω the number of microstates
These laws are very helpful to get better
understanding with physics Concepts.