Super admin . 5th Jul, 2025 4:53 PM
The First Law of Thermodynamics is one of the most important and fundamental principles in science. It states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed; it can only be transferred or converted from one form to another. In simpler terms, the total amount of energy in a closed system remains constant, although it may change its form.
We experience this principle in our daily lives. For example, when fuel burns in a car engine, the chemical energy stored in the fuel transforms into heat and mechanical energy, propelling the vehicle forward. The total energy before and after the reaction stays the same — it just appears in different forms.
In chemistry, this law is crucial for understanding how energy flows during physical changes and chemical reactions. When a system absorbs or releases heat, the internal energy of that system changes accordingly, but the total energy of the system and its surroundings combined remains constant.
The First Law of Thermodynamics is the foundation for understanding how engines, refrigerators, and even biological processes like metabolism work. It highlights the fact that while energy is endlessly versatile in form, its total quantity in a closed system is always preserved.