First Law of

Thermodynamics
Conservation of Energy for
Thermal Systems
 Joule Equivalent of Heat
• James Joule showed that mechanical
energy could be converted to heat and
arrived at the conclusion that heat was
another form of energy.
• He showed that 1 calorie of heat was
equivalent to 4.184 J of work.

1 cal = 4.184 J
 Energy
• Mechanical Energy: KE, PE, E
• Work is done by energy transfer.
• Heat is another form of energy.

Need to expand the conservation of energy

principle to accommodate thermal
systems.
 1 Law of Thermodynamics
st

• Consider an
example system
of a piston and
cylinder with an
enclosed dilute
gas
characterized by
P,V,T & n.
 1 Law of Thermodynamics
st

• What happens to
the gas if the
piston is moved
inwards?
 1 Law of Thermodynamics
st

• If the container is
insulated the
temperature will
rise, the atoms
move faster and the
pressure rises.
• Is there more
internal energy in
the gas?
 1 Law of Thermodynamics
st

• External agent
did work in
pushing the
piston inward. x
• W = Fd
• =(PA)x
• W =PV
 1 Law of Thermodynamics
st

• Work done on
the gas equals
the change in the
gases internal x
energy,
W = U
 1 Law of TD
st

• Let’s change the

situation:
• Keep the piston
fixed at its original
location.
• Place the cylinder
on a hot plate.
• What happens to
gas?
Heat flows into the gas.
Atoms move faster,
internal energy
increases.
Q = heat in Joules
U = change in internal
energy in Joules.

Q = U
 1 Law of TD
st

F
• What if we
added heat and
pushed the
piston in at the
same time?
 1 Law of TD
st

• Work is done on the

gas, heat is added
to the gas and the F
internal energy of
the gas increases!

Q = W + U
 1 Law of TD
st

Some conventions:
For the gases perspective:
• heat added is positive, heat removed is
negative.
• Work done on the gas is positive, work
done by the gas is negative.
• Temperature increase means internal
energy change is positive.
 1 Law of TD
st

• Example: 25 L of gas is enclosed in a

cylinder/piston apparatus at 2 atm of
pressure and 300 K. If 100 kg of mass is
placed on the piston causing the gas to
compress to 20 L at constant pressure.
This is done by allowing heat to flow out of
the gas. What is the work done on the
gas? What is the change in internal
energy of the gas? How much heat flowed
out of the gas?
• Po = 202,600 Pa, Vo = 0.025 m3, To = 300 K, Pf
= 202,600 Pa, Vf=0.020 m3, Tf=
n = PV/RT.
W = -PV
U = 3/2 nRT
Q = W + U
W =-PV = -202,600 Pa (0.020 – 0.025)m3
=1013 J energy added to the gas.
U =3/2 nRT=1.5(2.03)(8.31)(-60)=-1518 J
Q = W + U = 1013 – 1518 = -505 J heat out