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In each of these examples, mechanical energy is lost and the bodies in question become
hot. Where does the mechanical energy vanish? It goes into the internal energy of the
When a hot body is kept in contact with a cold body, the cold body warms up and the hot
body cools down. The internal energy of the hot body decreases and the internal energy
of the cold body increases. Thus, energy is transferred from the hot body to the cold body
when they are placed in contact. Notice that no mechanical work is done during this
transfer of energy (neglect any change in volume of the body).
This is because there are no displacements involved. This is different from the case when
we lift a ball vertically and the energy of the ball-earth system increases or when a
compressed spring relaxes and a block attached to its end speeds up. In the case of
lifting the ball, we do some work on the ball and the energy is increased by that amount.
In the case of spring-block example, the spring does some work and the kinetic energy of
the block increases.
The transfer of energy from a hot body to a cold body is a non-mechanical process. The
energy that is transferred from one body to the other, without any mechanical work
involved, is called heat.
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We now define the property of thermal systems that determines whether or not they are in
thermal equilibrium as the temperature: Two systems that are in thermal equilibrium with
each other must have the same temperatures. Thermal equilibrium is the state in which
there is no net interchange of thermal energy between bodies. In practice, temperature is
measured by assigning numbers to systems we designate as cold or hot and by using
thermal equilibrium.
The absolute scale, or Kelvin scale, is named for William Thomson, Lord Kelvin (1824-
1907), who contributed mightily to the understanding of thermal systems. He was the first
person to realize that there is an absolute minimum temperature at -273 °C, which he
proposed in 1851. The kelvin (K) is equal in size to the degree Celsius. There is no
“degree” associated with the name of the unit in the Kelvin scale. The zero of the absolute
scale, absolute zero, is at 0 K = -273.15 °C. Thus, 0 °C is at a temperature of 273.15 K.
The Platinum resistance Thermometer works on the principle of Wheatstone Bridge used
to measure resistance.
The Temperature of the ice point on the ideal gas scale is 273.15 K and of the steam
point is 373.15 K. The Interval between the two is 100 K. The Centigrade scale discussed
earlier has 0 degree centigrade for the ice point and 100 degree centigrade for the steam
point.
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