Basic Governing Laws of Conservation of

Energy, Mass and momentum

Law of conservation of energy (1st Law of Thermodynamics)

• It states that energy neither can be created nor can be destroyed but it can
be change from one form to another form.
• It also states that the change in the internal energy level of a system E is
equal to the amount of heat Q flowing in from the surroundings and work
W done on the system by the surroundings. Mathematically, it can be
written as:
E = Q +W (1)
• Note that E is a variable of state, while Q and W depend on the process
involved in the state change. And, for a small change of state the law can
be written in a differential form as:
dE = δQ + δW (2)
• Consider this simple
idolized system Of
cylinder-piston
arrangement,
assuming rigid walls.
Note that the only
avenue for work done
is through the
displacement of the
piston.
Figure 1: Simple cylinder-piston arrangement
• Thus, for the system considered here, the work term can be written
in terms of force vector F and displacement r as:

W = ∫ F · dr = − ∫ PA dr = − ∫ P dV (3)

• However, it can also be expressed in terms of pressure P and the

volume V, since the force is acting parallel to the displacement and is
equal to the pressure P multiplied by the piston surface area A. Note
that the negative sign indicates that the work is done by the system if
the system volume increases
• One can also distinguish between extensive and intensive variables of state.

• An variable is extensive if its value depends on the mass of the system. Such are
the system’s E and V.

• On the other hand, an intensive variable is independent on the mass

of the system, such as temperature and Pressure being typical examples.

• Also, for every extensive quantity, such as E, one can introduce its intensive
counter part e, the energy per unit mass, or specific energy. Similarly, specific
volume v = V/m can be defined.
• Using specific variables, the first law can now be written in its differential form as:
1
de = δQ − P dv = δq − P dv ( 4)
𝑚
•Besides the energy E , one can also introduce the concept of enthalpy
H, which is defined as:

H = E + PV (5)
• Thus, the first law can be expressed using enthalpy as:

dh = de + P dv + v dP = δq + v dP = δq + dp (6)

where ρ

ρ= 1/v is the mass density of the system

Law Conservation Mass
• Like 1st law of thermodynamic, Law of conservation of mass also say
that mass neither can be created nor can be destroyed.
• The Continuity equation is simply a mathematical expression of the
principle of conservation of mass. For a control volume that has
a single inlet and a single outlet, the principle of conservation of mass
states that, for steady-state flow, the mass flow rate into the volume
must equal the mass flow rate out.
ṁin = ṁout (7)
• Mass entering per unit time = Mass leaving per unit time
 Figure 2: Flow through a tube segment

Note that the mass flow rate across any cross-section is m˙ = ρuA.
Also, the mass enclosed within the segment for small enough ∆x can
be set equal to ρA ∆x.
 The amount of fluid mass enclosed within the segment increases at
the rate of ∂t (ρA ∆x ). Since mass is conserved, any sources or sinks
can be excluded, and any increases must be balanced by the inflow
through 1, minus the outflow through 2, such as:

∂ (ρA ∆ x) = - ∂ (ρuA) ∆ x (9)

∂t ∂x

Since ∆x does not depend on time t, and may be divided through, this
results in the continuity equation:
∂ (ρA) + ∂ (ρuA) = 0 (10)
∂t ∂x
And in the case of steady flow situations, the time dependency can be
dropped, and one is left with:
d (ρuA) = 0 ⇒ ṁ = ρuA = constant (11)
dx
Law of Conservation of Momentum
• In a Closed system (one that does not exchange any matter with its
surroundings and is not acted on by external forces) the total
momentum is constant. This fact, known as the law of conservation of
momentum.
• It implies Newton Law of Motion
• for example, that two particles interact. Because of the third law, the
forces between them are equal and opposite. If the particles are
numbered 1 and2, the second law states
that F1 = dp1/dt and F2 = dp2/dt. Therefore,
dp1/dt =-dp2/dt (12)
• with the negative sign indicating that the forces oppose. Equivalently
d (p2 + p1 ) (13)
dt

• If the velocities of the particles are u1 and u2 before the interaction,

and afterwards they are v1 and v2, then
m1 u1 + m2 U2 = m1 v1 + m2 v2 (14)
Pb# calculate the change in internal energy for a process, in which 600 j
work is done on system and system give off 250 J heat.

Data
W = 600 j
Q = -250
∆ E= ?
Sol:
∆ E= Q + W
∆ E= -250 +600
∆ E= 350 J
Pb# Calculate the final velocity if water flows through a 100 mm inside
diameter pipe with velocity 10 m/s. If the pipe is reduced to 80 mm
inside diameter.

Data
d1 = 100 mm d2 = 80 mm
A1= π/4 (d1)2 A2= π/4 (d2)2
A1= 0.00785 m2 A2 = 0.005024 m2
u1= 10 m/s u2 = ?
as we know that
ρu1A1 = ρu2A2 => u1A1 = u2A2
u2 = u1A1/A2 (1)
By putting value in eq: 1 we will get value of u2
u2 = 15.625 m/s
Pb# Consider a 42,000 kg train car travelling at 10 m/s toward another
train car at rest. After the two cars collide, they couple together and
move along at 6 m/s. What is the mass of the second train car?
Data
Before collision
m1 = 42000 kg m2 = ?
u1 = 10 m/s u2 = 0
After collision
u1 + u2 = u = 6 m/s
m1 + m2 = m
Solution
m1u1+m2u2 =mu => m1u1 =mu (1) :. m2u2 = 0
By putting value in eq: 1 we will get
m= 70000 kg
As we know that
m1 + m2 = m => m2 = m - m1 (2)
by putting value of m and m1 we will get value m2 that will be
m2 = 28000 kg