The Science of Hot and Cold

Thermodynamics is all about energy—how it moves, changes, and powers everything from engines to ice cream makers! This topic introduces temperature, heat, and the laws that govern energy flow.

Key Concepts

• Temperature: A measure of how hot or cold something is.
• Heat Transfer: How energy moves from one object to another via conduction, convection, and radiation.
• First Law of Thermodynamics: Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed.

Real-World Connections

Thermodynamics explains why ice melts in your drink, how refrigerators keep food cold, and why car engines heat up. It’s also crucial for understanding weather, cooking, and even climate change!

Essential Formula

The First Law of Thermodynamics is often written as:

\[ \Delta U = Q - W \]

Where \( \Delta U \) is the change in internal energy, \( Q \) is heat added, and \( W \) is work done by the system.