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Laws of Thermodynamics definitions

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  • Thermodynamics
    Study of energy and its transfers between substances and forms, focusing on universal principles governing these changes.
  • First Law of Thermodynamics
    Principle stating that energy is conserved in the universe, only transferred or transformed, never created or destroyed.
  • Conservation of Energy
    Concept that total energy remains constant during any process, with no net gain or loss in the universe.
  • Kinetic Energy
    Form of energy associated with motion, including heat, which is transferred between objects of different temperatures.
  • Potential Energy
    Stored energy based on position or arrangement, which can be converted into other energy forms.
  • Photosynthesis
    Process in plants where solar energy is converted into chemical energy, producing glucose and oxygen.
  • Chloroplast
    Organelle in plant cells responsible for capturing solar energy and driving the process of photosynthesis.
  • Mitochondria
    Organelle in animal cells where chemical energy from nutrients is converted into ATP through cellular respiration.
  • ATP
    Molecule serving as the main energy currency in cells, produced during cellular respiration for cellular activities.
  • Entropy
    Measure of disorder or randomness in a system, with higher values indicating greater disorganization.
  • Second Law of Thermodynamics
    Principle stating that energy conversions are never 100% efficient, always increasing universal entropy.
  • Heat
    Form of kinetic energy lost during energy transfers, not usable by organisms, contributing to increased entropy.
  • Chemical Energy
    Energy stored within molecular bonds, such as glucose, available for biological processes.
  • Cellular Respiration
    Process in cells where chemical energy from glucose is converted into ATP, releasing carbon dioxide and water.
  • Solar Energy
    Energy originating from the sun, serving as the primary source for life and driving photosynthesis.