Thermodynamics
Lesson 1 of 3 6 min +40 XP

The First Law

Energy is conserved.

What you'll learn

  • Understand the first law
  • Apply it to real examples
  • Check yourself with a quiz
The sealed room's budget

Energy in a system is like money in a sealed account: it can move as heat or work, but the total is never created or destroyed. Spend it one way and it shows up another.

ΔU = Q − W

A system's internal energy changes by heat added minus work done: ΔU = Q − W. Energy only transforms.

Knowledge Check

+10 XP / correct

1. The first law says energy is…

2. In ΔU = Q − W, W is…