Science
What is The laws of thermodynamics?
The laws of thermodynamics describe how energy behaves. In short: energy can't be created or destroyed, only transformed; systems naturally move toward disorder (entropy); and you can never reach absolute zero. They govern everything from engines to the universe.
See it, don’t just read it.
Watch a 2-minute lesson with voice + animation that explains the laws of thermodynamics.
Key things to understand
- 1First law: energy is conserved — it only changes form.
- 2Second law: entropy (disorder) tends to increase.
- 3Third law: you can't reach absolute zero temperature.
- 4They underpin physics, chemistry, and engineering.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the laws of thermodynamics?
- Rules about energy: it's conserved, disorder tends to increase, and absolute zero can't be reached.
- What is the first law of thermodynamics?
- Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only converted from one form to another.
- What is entropy in thermodynamics?
- A measure of disorder; the second law says total entropy tends to increase over time.