Thermodynamics| Definition and Daily Life Examples

Thermodynamics is the branch of science that focuses on the conversion of energy between different forms and the relationship between heat, temperature, energy, and work. It involves the study of how heat and work affect the changes in the state of matter, following the laws of thermodynamics.

Daily Life Examples of Thermodynamics

• Heating water changes its temperature and makes it turn into steam, following thermodynamics principles.
• Fridges remove heat from the inside, using thermodynamic principles of heat transfer.
• Car engines convert fuel into movement, following thermodynamic cycles.
• Our bodies convert food into energy, guided by thermodynamic principles.
• Power plants turn heat into electricity, for example, using steam turbines and following thermodynamic cycles.
• Solar panels change sunlight into electricity using thermodynamic principles.
• Hot coffee cools down by giving off heat to the surroundings, following thermodynamics.
• Air conditioners remove heat from indoors, cooling the space using thermodynamic principles.
• When gas expands in a cylinder, it does work, following thermodynamic principles.

Concept of Thermodynamics

• Thermodynamics defines a system as the specific part of the universe under study.
• Systems interact with their surroundings, and the exchange of matter and energy depends on the system’s type.
• Two main types of systems:
  • Open System: Allows both matter and energy exchange. Example: Boiling water on a stove without a lid.
  • Closed System: Allows only energy exchange, maintaining a constant amount of matter. Example: Cooling water in a sealed bottle in the fridge.
• Isolated System: Neither energy nor matter can be exchanged with the surroundings. Example: A Thermos flask.
• The classification of a system is based on the movement of energy and matter.
• The environment significantly impacts the thermodynamics of a system.

More details about open system and closed system are given in the table below:

System Type	Description	Example
Open System	Allows exchange of both energy and matter with its surroundings.	Water boiling on a stove without a cover. Container receives heat energy and releases water vapors.
Closed System	Permits only the exchange of energy with the surroundings, maintaining a constant amount of matter.	Sealed bottle of water in a fridge loses energy to the surroundings, lowering water temperature while keeping the quantity constant.
Isolated System	Neither energy nor matter can be exchanged between the system and the surroundings.	Thermos flask, effectively isolating its contents from external influences.
Environmental Impact on Thermodynamics	The environment significantly influences the thermodynamics of a system, shaping how energy and matter interact within the system and its surroundings.