A branch of physics that studies the processes involved in the reversible transformation of heat into mechanical work, of mechanical work into heat, or the flow of heat from a hotter to a colder body. It does so on a more macroscopical level than statistical mechanics. The first and second laws of thermodynamics aid in understanding processes like these. There are two other laws: the third law, or the Nernst heat theorem (as a homogeneous system approaches a temperature of absolute zero, then its entropy tends to zero), and the zeroth law (if two bodies are each separately in thermal equilibrium with a third body, then all three bodies are in thermal equilibrium with each other).<\/p>\n
See Bridge law (or principle)<\/a>, Entropy<\/a>, First law of thermodynamics<\/a>, Irreversible thermodynamics<\/a>, Law<\/a>, Open system<\/a>, Second law of thermodynamics<\/a>, Statistical mechanics<\/p>\n <\/body><\/html><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A branch of physics that studies the processes involved in the reversible transformation of heat into mechanical work, of mechanical work into heat, or the flow of heat from a hotter to a colder body. It does so on a more macroscopical level than statistical mechanics. The first and second laws of thermodynamics aid in … <\/p>\n