zeroth law of thermodynamics
- noun
- /ˈziːroʊθ lɔː əv ˌθɜːrməˈdaɪnəmɪks/
- Specialized
:
ley cero de la termodinámica
- Understanding the zeroth law of thermodynamics is essential for studying how heat flows between objects.
Examples
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The zeroth law of thermodynamics allows scientists to define temperature in a consistent way.
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The zeroth law of thermodynamics is fundamental to temperature measurement.
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In his lecture, the professor explained the significance of the zeroth law of thermodynamics in establishing the concept of thermal equilibrium.
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According to the zeroth law of thermodynamics, systems in equilibrium will not exchange heat.
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The zeroth law of thermodynamics explains why a thermometer and the water it measures will eventually reach the same temperature.
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According to the zeroth law of thermodynamics, if system A is in thermal equilibrium with system B, and system B is in equilibrium with system C, then system A is also in equilibrium with system C.
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The concept of the zeroth law of thermodynamics is fundamental for understanding thermal equilibrium in physics.
Surface Forms
Morphology
zeroth + law + of + thermodynamics
The term is compositionally built from 'zeroth' + 'law' + 'thermodynamics', so a learner who knows the constituents would infer it names a (preceding) law in thermodynamics. However, the specific content — the formal statement about thermal equilibrium — is a technical scientific proposition that cannot be derived from the words alone and thus requires subject knowledge or prior exposure.
Etymology
Zeroth law of thermodynamics got its strange name because scientists discovered this basic rule after the 'first' and 'second' laws but wanted it to be placed before them, so they numbered it zeroth. The rule says that if two things are each the same temperature as a third thing, they are the same temperature as each other, so it gives us the idea of 'temperature' and lets us compare heat between objects.
