Thermodynamics

Part 13: Thermodynamics

This part introduces thermodynamics, the study of how energy is transformed and transferred through heat and work. Building on the concepts of temperature and heat transfer, you will learn how the laws of thermodynamics govern the behavior of physical and biological systems. These principles explain how energy is conserved, why some processes occur spontaneously while others do not, and why every energy conversion has fundamental limits on its efficiency.

Thermodynamics plays a central role in biology, medicine, and engineering. Living organisms continuously convert chemical energy into mechanical work, heat, and other forms of energy while maintaining highly organized internal environments. You will study the operation of heat engines, refrigerators, and heat pumps, explore the concepts of entropy and energy availability, and learn how the statistical behavior of atoms and molecules explains the macroscopic laws of thermodynamics. These ideas provide a foundation for understanding metabolism, physiological energy balance, medical technologies, and many natural processes.

This part contains the following chapters:

107. Introduction to Thermodynamics
108. The First Law of Thermodynamics
109. The First Law of Thermodynamics and Some Simple Processes
110. Introduction to the Second Law of Thermodynamics: Heat Engines and Their Efficiency
111. Carnot’s Perfect Heat Engine: The Second Law of Thermodynamics Restated
112. Applications of Thermodynamics: Heat Pumps and Refrigerators
113. Entropy and the Second Law of Thermodynamics: Disorder and the Unavailability of Energy
114. Statistical Interpretation of Entropy and the Second Law of Thermodynamics: The Underlying Explanation