Meaning & use
thermodynamics
Last updated
Meaning
noununcountabletechnicalphysics
The area of physics that deals with heat, work, temperature, and how energy moves or changes form.
Grammar: Although it ends in -s, it is used with a singular verb: 'Thermodynamics is difficult.'
Patterns
- the laws of thermodynamics
- the first/second law of thermodynamics
Thermodynamics explains why a cup of hot coffee eventually cools to room temperature.
In thermodynamics, energy can change from one form to another but cannot be created or destroyed.
She is taking a course in thermodynamics as part of her engineering degree.
Common combinations
- the laws of thermodynamics
- The laws of thermodynamics govern how energy behaves in all physical systems.
- classical thermodynamics
- Classical thermodynamics studies systems in equilibrium without considering individual molecules.
- the second law of thermodynamics
- The second law of thermodynamics says that entropy in an isolated system never decreases.
Word family
- thermodynamic adjective
- Relating to thermodynamics: 'a thermodynamic process'.
- thermodynamicist noun
- A person who studies thermodynamics.
Commonly confused: thermodynamics or dynamics?
thermodynamics vs dynamics
Dynamics is the study of forces and motion; thermodynamics focuses on heat and energy.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'thermodynamics' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The noun is uncountable and takes a singular verb, so 'Thermodynamics is' is correct. 'Are' is wrong because the word is treated as singular despite the -s ending.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “thermodynamics”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.