L21 - Intro to Thermodynamics

Flashcards on Thermodynamics, Energy Transfer, and Chemical Systems

Thermodynamics

The study of energy and energy change.

Heat and Work

Ways of transferring energy, not types of energy themselves.

First Law of Thermodynamics

Energy cannot be created or destroyed; it can only be transferred or change forms.

Chemical Energy

Energy stored in chemical bonds.

Nuclear Energy

Energy stored inside the nucleus of an atom.

Mechanical Energy

Energy associated with motion, such as pedaling a bicycle.

Thermal Energy

Energy related to the speed at which atoms in a substance are vibrating.

Electrical Energy

Energy associated with moving electrons or the potential for electrons to move.

Radiant Energy

Energy associated with electromagnetic radiation like visible light.

Kinetic Energy

Energy associated with motion.

Potential Energy

Energy associated with position in a field, or the potential to do something.

Joule

The SI unit for energy, defined as the amount of energy needed to move something one meter with one Newton of force.

Calorie

An older measure of energy, defined as the energy to heat one gram of water by one degree Celsius or Kelvin; one Calorie (big C) is a kilocalorie (1000 calories).

System

The part of the universe that is being focused on when discussing energy changes.

Surroundings

Everything outside of the system.

Open System

A system that can exchange both energy and matter with its surroundings.

Closed System

A system that can only exchange energy with its surroundings, but not matter.

Isolated System

A system that can neither exchange matter nor energy with its surroundings.

Endothermic Process

A process in which the energy in the system increases (energy flows into the system).

Exothermic Process

A process in which the energy in the system decreases (energy flows out of the system).