First Law of Thermodynamics

Which principle is described by the First Law of Thermodynamics?

According to the First Law of Thermodynamics, what happens to the total energy associated with an energy conversion?

In the context of the First Law of Thermodynamics, what does it mean when it says 'heat and work are mutually convertible'?

How is the relationship between work delivered to the surroundings and heat taken from the surroundings described in the First Law of Thermodynamics?

What is one important implication of the statement 'No machine can produce energy without corresponding expenditure of energy' from the First Law of Thermodynamics?

First Law of Thermodynamics

Establishes the principle of conservation of energy, indicating that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed.
Total energy in an isolated system remains constant during any process involving energy conversion.

Energy Conversion

During energy conversion, the total energy is conserved; it changes form but the overall amount remains unchanged.
Energy can transfer between systems as heat or work, but the sum of energy before and after the conversion stays the same.

Heat and Work Interchangeability

'Heat and work are mutually convertible' signifies that heat energy can be transformed into work energy and vice versa.
This interconversion is fundamental in thermodynamic processes, allowing systems to perform work through heat supply.

Work and Heat Relationship

The relationship indicates that the work done on or by a system is directly correlated to the heat transferred into or out of the system.
Such interactions help to quantify the efficiency and performance of thermal machines and processes.

Implication of Energy Expenditure

The statement 'No machine can produce energy without corresponding expenditure of energy' emphasizes that all forms of energy production require input energy.
This principle underscores the limitation of machines in terms of energy output relative to energy consumption, reinforcing the conservation of energy.

Learn about the fundamental principle in thermodynamics stating that energy cannot be created or destroyed, but only converted from one form to another. Explore how heat and work are related, and how energy remains constant in any energy conversion process.