First law of thermodynamics
Primera ley de la termodinámica
- Date
- 1850 · confidence high
- Place
- Berlin, Germany
- Credited to
- Rudolf Clausius; William Thomson (Kelvin)
- People
- 👤 Rudolf Clausius1822–1888👤 William Thomson1825–1907
- Field
- Matter & energy
What was discovered
The change in a system's internal energy equals the heat received minus the work done; Clausius reconciles Carnot with Joule by introducing internal energy as a state function. Thermodynamics is born as a formal science.
'Über die bewegende Kraft der Wärme' (1850); Kelvin published his version in 1851 in Glasgow and coined the term 'thermodynamics'.
What it led to
- Chemical thermodynamics (Gibbs)
- Thermal engineering
- Second law and entropy
- Statistical thermodynamics
Built on
- Carnot cycle and maximum efficiency of heat engines1824
- Mechanical equivalent of heat1843-1849
- Helmholtz's conservation of energy
Made possible
- Engine design by energy balance
- Refrigeration cycles