Chapter 8 ‒ Thermodynamics (Propedéutico de Medicina, Universidad Anáhuac Querétaro)

Vocabulary flashcards covering fundamental terms and medical applications introduced in Chapter 8: Thermodynamics.

Thermodynamics

Branch of physics that studies the relationships among heat, work, and energy in physical systems.

Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics

States that if system A is in thermal equilibrium with system C, and system B is also in thermal equilibrium with system C, then A and B are in thermal equilibrium with each other.

Thermal Equilibrium

Condition in which two systems in contact no longer exchange heat because they are at the same temperature.

Temperature (intensive property)

A measure that describes the thermal state of a system in equilibrium; identical for all systems in mutual thermal equilibrium.

Thermometer

Instrument that reaches thermal equilibrium with the body and provides a reading of the body’s temperature—critical for medical diagnosis and monitoring.

Medical Thermal Devices

Equipment used in healthcare settings to heat, cool, or regulate patient temperature based on principles of thermal equilibrium.

First Law of Thermodynamics

Energy conservation principle stating that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only converted; expressed as ΔE = q + w.

Internal Energy (E)

Total microscopic energy (kinetic + potential) contained within a system; changes when heat or work is exchanged.

Heat (q)

Energy transferred into or out of a system due to a temperature difference between the system and its surroundings.

Work (w)

Energy transfer that occurs when an external force acts through a distance on the system.

ΔE = q + w

Equation linking the change in a system’s internal energy (ΔE) to the heat added (q) and the work done on the system (w).

Energy Transformation During Exercise

Process in which chemical energy stored in food is converted into mechanical work by muscles, illustrating the First Law in a biomedical context.