THERMAL EQUILIBRIUM AND ZEROTH LAW

Thermal Equilibrium

It is observed that a higher temperature object which is in contact with a lower temperature object will transfer
heat to the lower temperature object. The objects will approach the same temperature, and in the absence of loss
to other objects, they will then maintain a constant temperature. They are then said to be in thermal equilibrium.
Thermal equilibrium is the subject of the Zeroth law of thermodynamics.

Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics

It states that if two systems are in thermal equilibrium with a third system then they are in thermal equilibrium
with each other. The Zeroth law leads to the concept of temperature.

FIRST LAW OF THERMODYNAMICS

The First law of thermodynamics is represented as;

Q = U + W
Q is the heat exchange within a system,
U is the change in internal energy of a system,
W is the work done by the system.

System itself can be classified as open, closed or isolated system as per the table given here:

Heat exchange Mass enters or

System takes place or leaves the
ΔQ ≠0 system
Open  
Closed  
Isolated  

Sign Convention

 We will use the following thermodynamic sign convention wherein:

Q: Heat given to the system is positive, heat given by the system is negative.
W: Work done by the system is positive and work done on the system is negative.
U: It is the value of the final internal energy minus the initial internal energy.

Specific Heat Capacity

 The amount of heat absorbed or evolved by unit mass of a substance such that its temperature changes by
unity, is called the specific heat capacity of the substance. Specific heat capacity is expressed as;

Q  msT  ms T f  Ti  ;
Q
s
mT
 The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one gram mole of a substance through a unit
degree is called the molar specific heat of the substance.
S 1  Q 
C   
n n  T 
 Q
Here S  is heat capacity.
T

 Relation between specific heat at constant volume and pressure

 If Q is absorbed at constant volume, then change in volume V = 0.
 Q   U  U
CV      
 T V  T V T
 If Q is the heat absorbed by the ideal gas at constant pressure, we have;
 Q   U   V 
CP       P 
 T  P  T P  T  P
 CV  R (Using PV  nRT )

(U depends only on temperature so subscripts P and V have no meaning for internal energy)
or CP – CV = R