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Which law of thermodynamics states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed, only transformed from one form to another?
First Law of Thermodynamics
Second Law of Thermodynamics
Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics
Third Law of Thermodynamics
First Law of Thermodynamics
The First Law of Thermodynamics, also known as the Law of Conservation of Energy, states that the total energy of an isolated system remains constant. It asserts that energy cannot be created or destroyed, but only transformed from one form to another.
The First Law of Thermodynamics, also known as the Law of Conservation of Energy, states that the total energy of an isolated system remains constant. It asserts that energy cannot be created or destroyed, but only transformed from one form to another.
Think of a bank account: you cannot create money out of thin air; you can only move it from savings to checking (transforming the energy state) or spend it (doing work).
You can't get something for nothing (cannot create energy) and you can't break even (Second Law).
╬ФU=QтИТW тАФ where ╬ФU is the change in internal energy, Q is heat added, and W is work done by the system.
The law is a mathematical expression of the energy balance in a system. When heat Q is added to a system, it is used either to increase the internal energy ╬ФU of the system or to do mechanical work W on the surroundings. Mathematically, it relates the change in internal energy to heat exchange and work done.
The law establishes the concept of internal energy as a state function.
It forms the basis for defining perpetual motion machines of the first kind as impossible.
It applies to all closed systems regardless of the path taken during a process.
Allows for the calculation of energy requirements in mechanical and chemical systems.
It does not provide information regarding the direction of a process or its feasibility.
Calculation of fuel efficiency in internal combustion engines.
Design of power plants and steam turbines.
The SI unit for all energy components in this law is the Joule (J).
Option B (Second Law) defines entropy and the direction of heat flow. Option C (Zeroth Law) defines temperature and thermal equilibrium. Option D (Third Law) states that the entropy of a perfect crystal approaches zero as temperature approaches absolute zero.
A is correct тАФ The First Law of Thermodynamics is a statement of the Law of Conservation of Energy applied to thermodynamic systems.
In competitive exams, always remember that the First Law deals with energy quantity, while the Second Law deals with energy quality (entropy).