Thermodynamics Vocabulary Compilation
Thermodynamics is an important branch of physical science which is concerned with the production and transformation of heat, work and internal energy of a closed system. It is the study of the energy interactions that occur in any physical phenomenon and is considered to be one of the most fundamental aspects of science. Here is a list of thermodynamics vocabulary words.
System: A system is defined as any physical quantity with boundaries and is considered to be the subject of study in thermodynamics.
Surroundings: The surroundings are the environment in which the system exists which can include both natural and man-made objects.
Internal Energy: Internal energy (U) is the energy which belongs to a system and can be changed by doing work on, or by transferring heat to the system.
Enthalpy: Enthalpy (H) is the sum of the internal energy (U) plus the product of the pressure (P) multiplied by the volume (V) of a closed system.
Heat Energy: Heat energy (Q) is the form of energy which is transferred from one body to another at different temperatures.
Work: Work (W) is the interaction of two energies due to a mechanical force.
State Variable: A state variable is a thermodynamic property which uses extensive properties to describe a specific state of a system. Examples of state variables include temperature, pressure, and volume.
Equilibrium: Equilibrium is the state where the variables of the system do not change and the system is in balance.
Thermal Expansion: Thermal expansion is the change in the volume of a substance due to an increase in temperature.
Pressure-Volume Work: Pressure-volume work is the work done when the pressure and volume of a system are changed.
Adiabatic Process: An adiabatic process is a thermodynamic process which does not exchange heat with the environment.
Isothermal Process: An isothermal process is a thermodynamic process which does exchange heat with the environment.
Entropy: Entropy is the degree of thermal energy which is not available to do work and is the measure of a systems disorder.
Gibbs Free Energy: Gibbs free energy (G) is the measure of the energy which is available to do work and is calculated as G = H -TS, where T is the temperature and S is the entropy.
Ideal Gas Law: The ideal gas law (PV= nRT) is an equation which states that the pressure multiplied by the volume of an ideal gas is equal to the number of moles of the gas multiplied by the universal gas constant, R, multiplied by the temperature of the gas.
Heat Capacity: Heat capacity (C) is the measure of the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a system by one unit.
Thermal Efficiency: Thermal efficiency is a measure of the efficiency of a machine or device when producing energy from heat.
These terms are some of the more common terms used in the study of thermodynamics and its applications. By understanding these terms, it is possible to gain a better appreciation of how thermodynamics works and its implications.
