Vedatom Physics
Thermo / Laws of Thermodynamics
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Heat & work — sign convention
First law: ΔQ = ΔU + ΔW — heat supplied = rise in internal energy + work done by the gas.
Heat Q: + when supplied TO the system, − when released.
Work W: + when done BY the gas, − on compression.
U is a state function — ΔU depends only on the endpoints. Q and W are path functions — they depend on the route between them.
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Thermo Lab · all topics
§01

The first law — energy has to balance

Pour heat Q into the gas and let it push the piston out, doing work W. Whatever heat is left over after paying for the work stays inside as a rise in internal energy ΔU. Slide the two inputs and watch the balance — it never breaks.

GAS U {{ flU }} internal energy Q = {{ flQ }} J {{ flQnote }} W = {{ flW }} J {{ flWnote }}
heat added Q{{ flQ }} J
work done by gas W{{ flW }} J
ΔU=QW= {{ flDU }} J
{{ flVerdict }}